Wonder kids have grown up — finally

KANNAPOLIS — A.L. Brown coach Doug Wilson will never climb so high that he’ll forget where he came from.

“Oh yeah,I can remember my first year here,” said Wilson. “The athletic director then was Bruce Hardin and he came to me after we went 2-21, expecting me to give it up. I told Bruce I wanted to come back.”

Hardin was stunned at that decision because no one had returned for a second season as the Wonders’ coach in quite some time. When Wilson arrived at Brown in 1998 he took over the discouraged remnants of a one-win team and became the program’s fourth coach in four years.

Against all odds, Wilson’s become as much a fixture as the green seats in Bullock Gym. And his impact has been dramatic. Wilson’s turned girls hoops into arguably the school’s most successful sport this side of football.

The last three years, Wilson’s record has risen like an elevator from that awful 2-21 to 6-17 to last season’s 15-13. That 15-13 mark was better than it sounds, because it included the SPC tourney title and two state playoff victories. The Wonders were just a win away from reaching the regionals.

And this season Wilson’s team should be more dangerous. He’s in the fourth year of his four-year plan and he’s got something he’s never had — a senior class. And for the first time in forever, both components of Wilson’s prize backcourt combination of Elise Stanback and Kesha Johnson are healthy and raring to go.

“We could be very special,” Wilson said. “But we sure aren’t going to creep up on anyone.”

The Wonders’ “creeping up” days officially ended last February, when they buzzed through three quality teams — East Rowan, Central Cabarrus and West Rowan — to win the SPC tourney.

“We weren’t the best team in that league in December,” said Wilson. “Or January. But in February, we probably were. That’s why we were the last team standing.”

This season, Wilson will still be coaching the same core group he debuted with. Those girls that lost 21 times as freshmen are still around. But now they’ve grown up — physically, mentally and emotionally. The last month of last season, they caught up to the competition. This year they should surpass it.

The Wonders will have as much experience as some NBA teams. The starting lineup may include two four-year starters, two more four-year varsity veterans and a junior, who will be starting for the third time. That group has more letters than the post office.

The most important addition to the roster could be assistant coach Gary Atwell, who won nearly 200 games as a head coach at North Rowan. Like Wilson, Atwell’s seen both sides. He’s coached a winless team and he’s also rolled to the regionals.

“We’re like a rock band that’s just gotten a new drummer,” grinned Wilson. “Gary’s a tremendous asset. He’s helping with the middle school, the jayvees and the varsity. He makes us better at every level.”

Familiar faces Nehemiah “Peanut” Hawkins and Basil Adams will also be part of the Wonder braintrust.

Still, it’s going to be a challenging season. Wilson agrees that the new 3A North Piedmont Conference is going to be a bear. The new league includes four of the five best teams from the old SPC (East, West, Northwest Cabarrus and A.L. Brown), plus Statesville and North Iredell teams that are loaded. Mooresville’s the only NPC school that doesn’t expect a banner season.

“There are no easy outs this time,” said Wilson. “People expect a lot from us and we expect a lot from ourselves, but you have to be realistic. Our new league is good and only three make the playoffs.”

The Wonders could still be good enough to win 18 or so.

Start with Stanback, who is small, but has the quickness and hops to be a Division II college standout.

“She’s just gifted,” said Wilson. “There were times last season when Kesha was out and Elise had to do just about everything, She was playing point guard and she was jumping center.”

Wilson calls Johnson, slowed by sickness last season, the “heart and soul” of the squad. “Kesha’s a very determined girl with great speed,” said Wilson. “When she was a sophomore, she was All-SPC. She and Elise have a lot of pride. They turned things around here and that’s something they’ll always carry inside them.”

Joanna Hutchinson has made big contributions the last three seasons and could start as a senior. Wilson says Hutchinson is a “demon-like defender.” She could be a terror on the Wonders’ traps, because she has excellent anticipation.

“I’ve coached Joanna and Kesha every year since the fourth grade,” said Wilson. “Joanna fires everyone up. She gives our best locker-room speeches.”

Tomekia Powell, 6-foot-2, is the Wonders’ post presence. She’s developed steadily after her career got a late start. Powell was a tall cheerleader until Wilson’s team suffered a rare middle school loss. That’s when Powell put down her pom-poms and started helping her friends on the court.

“She’s a big factor,” said Wilson. “ She’s stronger and she’s catching the ball better. Tomekia used to be a hurdles champion. There aren’t a lot of big people who can run with her.”

Michelle Crosby, a steady 5-10 junior forward, will start for the third season. She’s a good shooter and uses positioning to grab tons of rebounds.

“Michelle’s a model player,” said Wilson. “She’s smart and a better athlete than she gets credit for. She’s started in three sports since she got here.”

Key reserves figure to be bookend forwards Mahogony Rice and Krystal Buster and guard Bootsie Thomas.

Wilson says next to Powell, Rice is his most improved player. The wide-open Thomas adds speed, as does Marissa Smitherman.

Veteran Dayle Summers, whom Wilson calls “loyal and intelligent” is also in the mix. Marquita Clowney offers an outside touch, while Melondy Sturgis is a real hustler.

One sign the Wonders are going to be really good is that powerful freshman Kim Millhouse will likely begin the season with coach Nikkaris Surratt’s jayvees.

If the Wonders have a weakness it’s that they’re not great shooters. But they may not need to be,

“The keys will be speed and defense,” said Wilson. “When we hold teams under 50 points we’ve got a great shot. But we’ve got to be ready for everyone’s best. The ante’s been increased.”