EAST JACKSON should return to the floor well-stocked next basketball season and is getting a preview during the summer months.
Jarron Davis (junior), Nathan Crumley (senior), Casey Reed (junior) and Tyree Rakestraw (junior), among others, are all back as the Eagles hope to rebound from a 7-20 year.
“We’ve got a solid group back,” said East Jackson coach Brian Turner, whose team is in the middle of its summer scrimmage schedule.
In addition to those four, Caleb Hill, Patrick Chastain and Sydney Henderson have stepped up this summer, according to Turner, after playing sparingly this past season.
Turner believes all 14 Eagle players on the summer roster bring something to the table. The problem has simply been finding everyone on-court minutes during the summer exhibitions.
“It’s a good problem to have, but it’s a bad problem too,” Turner said. “Because I think all 14 kids we have can do something productive in the game. It’s virtually impossible to play kids everyday and every night.”
The Eagles will continue their summer slate with a mix of locales.
East Jackson, which played eight scrimmages last week at home, has an out-of-state trip for a University of Chattanooga camp this week. The Eagles will also travel to St. Francis, St. Pius X and Lakeview Academy for scrimmage dates later this summer.
“It will be a full season (worth of games),” said Turner, whose team did not participate in any spring activities.
It’s all in preparation for this winter’s rigors.
East Jackson is moving up to Region 8-AAA this season, where it will be pitted against familiar foes. After all, Elbert County, North Oconee, Hart County and Jackson County are making the jump to 8-AAA with the Eagles. There, they’ll also face teams like traditionally-strong Franklin County, which is traditionally good, and Morgan County.
“I’m excited about the season, but our region didn’t get any easier,” Turner said.
Still, Turner remains optimistic.
“I like where we’re at, and I like where we’re going,” Turner said. “I think this year and next year we have a chance to be really good.”
