By Brian Pitts
sports@salisburypost.com
MOCKSVILLE – For the Davie boys, the opening of basketball season this week is like finally being given clearance to rip the gift wrap off a box that has been sitting in the corner seemingly taunting you for seven or so months.It’s time for another much-anticipated season.
Since twins Caleb and Cody Martin have been on the scene, the War Eagles have been exorcising a lot of negative history. When the Martins were freshmen in 2010-11, Davie went 19-6 to tie for second in the Central Piedmont Conference, won the most games in 11 years and reached 19 Ws for the second time in 42 years. The War Eagles rocketed to 23-7 last year. After tying for second in the regular season, they won the CPC Tournament to mark their first league title since 1970 and broke the school record for wins. They ventured into uncharted territory by reaching the regional. While finishing as Western Regional runner-up, they reached 20 wins for the third time in Davie’s 56-year history.
This figures to be the third chapter in a truly special four-year run. The reason: Davie is loaded with juniors. Losing guard Nate Jones (23.7 ppg, nine 30-point games) and center Shannon Dillard (16 ppg, 16 double-doubles) would be a major blow for most teams, but Davie has legitimate hopes for a nice encore because twins Austin and Taylor Hatfield transferred in from South Davidson.
“With Austin and Taylor coming in, now there’s five people that can score at any time,” 11th-year Davie coach Mike Absher said. “We have a lot of (varsity) experience. Cody and Caleb have only continued to get better. You can’t replace Nate, but I think collectively as a group we can. There’s enough people that can score that it’ll be hard for people to defend us. When you put all that together, we’re very, very optimistic about our chance to make another good run.”
The Martins are big-timers, both ranked in the top 50 nationally in their class. Last month they committed to N.C. State.
“Before I could go to bed Ohio State was calling me at 10:45 and saying: ‘Gosh, coach, is this really true?'” Absher said.
Last year Caleb (6-6, 184) was on a huge tear before breaking his foot and missing 13 games. He enjoyed four 20-point games before the injury. He returned for the stirring postseason run, but he wasn’t quite the same, settling for a 12-point average. In one game he had 20 points, seven assists and five steals. In another, he had 20 points, seven boards and four assists.
Cody (6-6, 197) scored 14.6 as a soph, recording eight double-doubles. The Martins have tremendous all-around athleticism, and they’ll deliver no telling how many thunderous dunks.
“Caleb is more of a perimeter player,” Absher said. “When the opportunity arises, we can put Caleb on the post. Caleb’s range has increased a lot. He’s got more explosiveness than he had a year ago.
“Cody will go inside. He is more of the banger. The great thing about Cody is he is shooting the ball very well.”
Two years ago as freshmen, the Hatfields made a hapless South Davidson respectable. Austin averaged 19.5 points and Taylor 16.7 as South achieved the first winning season (14-12) in 20-plus years. The Wildcats had a dream season last year, going 24-6 for their first 20-win campaign ever. They shared the Yadkin Valley Conference title with North Rowan before losing to eventual 1-A state champ Winston-Salem Prep in the sectional finals.
The Hatfields were named to the All-Davidson County team both years. Taylor, a point guard who averaged 18.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals and hit 85 3-pointers, was Davidson County Player of the Year in 2011-12.
“Taylor has all the characteristics of a point guard,” Absher said. “He really understands what we’re trying to do. He’s also a very good shooter. Obviously he can beat people off the dribble.”
Austin averaged 21.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals and hit 83 3s as a soph.
“Austin is more of an offguard,” Absher said. “He’s a really, really good shooter. The way we play fits him because we’re running and trying to shoot 3s in transition. He can put the ball on the floor, though, and he can pull up and shoot it. He can get to the basket when he needs to.”
Both Hatfields are listed at 6-0, 175. “They’re strong kids,” he said. “They can take contact.”
Junior Kenyon Tatum, a third-year varsity player, is a big piece of the puzzle. The 6-3 , 185-pounder will patrol the paint. Last year he averaged seven points off the bench, getting 18 points and 10 rebounds in one game and 19 points and 10 boards in another.
“He’s not Shannon Dillard, but he will bring some things to us that maybe even Shannon didn’t bring,” Absher said. “Kenyon got a lot of experience last year and started a lot of games.”
Absher loves the soft-spoken, mild-mannered Tatum because he embraces his complementary role. He loves Tatum because he has a gift for doing what’s needed.
“His biggest role is to rebound, but (his 14 points in the CPC Tournament final win over Mt. Tabor) summed up Kenyon,” he said. “He just scored when we needed him to score.”
Sell, a junior guard who averaged three points last year, will be an important player as a starter or sixth man. He offered a hint of his potential when he exploded for 14 points in a 70-66 win over West Rowan in the Moir Christmas Classic. He suffered an ACL tear in the second round of the playoffs, missing the last four games. But he worked extremely hard to get back, and he seems primed for a breakout.
“He’s had a really good offseason from his injury to now,” Absher said. “People may not have realized how big that injury was to us. We weren’t real deep anyway, and then we were really thin. He shot really well in four scrimmages, and I think he’ll be a big part of it.”
Kurtis Banner, a returning senior, will get asked to fill a role.
“He brings a physical and mental toughness that is huge,” Absher said. “He’s so active. He’s a good communicator. To me when somebody communicates on defense, that tells you they’re tough. He’s going to help us in the depth category.”
Davie has six returners, including senior center Chris Campbell. Cade Carney will play a key supporting role. Many people have never seen a freshman do the things he did in football, rushing for 1,908 yards and winning Co-CPC Offensive Player of the Year. With his concrete body, he will set screens, rebound and defend opposing big men.
“We need some depth at four and five, and I think Cade brings a mental and physical toughness that will make our guys better,” Absher said. “He’s got some natural leadership about him. I watched him compete at football at such a high level and in such an intense environment. He’s obviously well beyond his years in that capacity.”
Davie has three seniors, including Ethan Krey. It has nine juniors, including Tommy Joe Boyette, Nathan Colamarino and Branson Parnell. Blaise Bennett is the only sophomore, and Carney is the lone freshman.
Notes
• Absher believes the Martins, the Hatfields and the rest will mold into a cohesive unit. They appear to be “us first,” not “me first,” players. “Our team has a high basketball IQ, which is extremely fun to coach,” he said. “I’m thrilled with the way the ball’s being moved and shared. People see that this is a good shot, but there’s an even better shot. That’s how you win a lot of games.”
• N.C. State assistant coach Rob Moxley made an appearance at Davie practice on Nov. 7. “It’s neat,” Absher said. “Coach Moxley told Cody and Caleb good luck, keep working hard and that kind of stuff. They’re going to be around a lot.”
• Taylor Hatfield is righthanded, while Austin is a lefty. “Once you get around them, you’ll figure out who’s who,” Absher said.• The Hatfields are definite college prospects. But unlike the Martins, they may have to part ways down the road. “I’m not sure how that’s going to play out because I think they are willing to not go together,” Absher said. “It’s a lot different when you’re 6-6 like Cody and Caleb. They might be able to go together, and they might not.”• Last year when Davie edged Richmond County 66-65 in the sectional finals, a capacity crowd squeezed into Davie’s gym and hundreds of fans were turned away at the door. Absher and school officials are trying to come up with a plan to accommodate folks if the place sells out again.
“We’re supposed to meet and talk about overflow, crowd control and that kind of stuff,” he said. “In those five conference (home games), we need to have a pretty solid plan. We’ve talked about streaming it in the cafeteria. We’re looking at different options.”