By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY ó Darien Rankin? Gone.
John Knox and Romar Morris? Gone.
Jarrett Rivens, Alex Weant and Forrest Wilkins? Gone.
Thatís 66 points Jason Causby wonít have as the season begins. So after Salisburyís 20-7 campaign, things look bleak, right?
Not quite.
The 6-foot-7 Rivens has been replaced by 6-7 junior Tony Nunn, who should provide even more scoring than Rivensí 10.2 average. Guards will be replaced by committee.
Inside, the highly touted Nunn sat on the bench as a freshman and went with Causby to North Hills Christian School last year, along with other Hornets Buster Hillie, a 5-7 junior guard, and JíQuille Tracey, a slashing, talented 6-4 junior forward.
Those three are back, as is Causby, who is replacing Justin Morgan, who went from his assistant to the head man last year. Morgan is again the assistant after leading the Hornets to the Western Regionals, where they lost to East Rutherford.
ěI felt lucky to get hired the first time,î said Causby, who was here six years before leaving. ěItís not very often you get a second chance.î
He comes back to greet a couple of talented big men.
Nunn will team with another 6-7 junior, Tyler Petty, down low.
ěTonyís going to anchor the middle,î Causby said ěHe runs the floor really well for his size. We donít have to plod up and down the court. A lot of his points come in transition. Both he and Tyler will benefit from each other.î
Perry has been on the varsity since he was a freshman and he could have his break-out season after averaging 4.4 points last year.
ěTyler may face up more,î Causby said. ěHe has that Tyler Hansbrough push shot. He can also step out on the wing. Weíll let him shoot the three.î
When muscular 6-4 junior Keion Adams joins them, there wonít be many 2A front lines as formidable.
ěKeion plays with a chip on his shoulder,î Causby smiled. ěHe has a nasty attitude ó in a good way. He can rebound and defend.î
There have been whispers about Traceyís talent and now Hornet Nation will see for itself.
ěHeís by far the best passer from the low block,î Causby praised. ěAnd heís an unbelievable leaper.î
Tion McCain, a 5-11 senior, should play point guard.
McCain, coming off a knee injury suffered in football, has been on varsity for four years. He had three double-figure games last year.
ěHe brings a lot of experience,î Causby said. ěHeíll give us good, solid minutes. Weíve groomed him and the future is here.î
A good defender is 5-11 DeJoun Jones, another four-year guy.
ěHeís a wing/slasher,î Causby said.
Causby calls senior guard B.J. Woods ěan all-everything guy. Heíll be one of our best defenders and one of our better spot-up shooters. Heís one of the fastest guys.î
D.J. Griffin is a 6-1 senior guard.
ěHe has been in the shadow,î Causby said. ěThe kid has always been a basketball-first guy. He has really improved.î
Kalil Duncan is a returning senior guard.
ěHeís a great kid,î Causby said. ěTell him his role and heíll execute it to a tee. Heís a glue guy.î
Darius Banner came over from West Rowan and the junior has grown two inches to 6-3. He can play positions 1 through 4.
ěHeíll do a little bit of everything,î Causby said of the junior. ěHe is real steady.î
DaQuan Robertson is a 6-1 senior guard who can make things happen. Causby likes his on-the-ball defense.
Hillie is small but heís the quickest Hornet.
ěHe has a good handle and a good concept of the game,î Causby said.
Jon Mark Petty, the 6-4 brother of Tyler, will see time between jayvee and varsity.
ěHeís a glue guy,î Causby said.
With all the graduation losses, Causby needs plenty of glue to paste together this talented bunch.
ěWe have a lot of pieces, but Iíd rather have the pieces and figure out how to put them together,î Causby said.
The Hornets will be tested early with a nonconference schedule that includes defending state 1A champ North Rowan and 3A West Rowan. Theyíll face private school Westchester. And thereís always the Christmas tournament at Catawba.
Causby watched last yearís team excel and he knows why.
ěWhat made them special was they enjoyed the heck out of each other,î Causby said.
It appears the latest edition of the Hornets are from the same mold. If Causby fits the pieces correctly, they could exceed last yearís win total.