By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — John Knox, the former Salisbury High athlete and jack-of-all-trades football player for the University of Charleston, now guides an intriguing varsity boys basketball team at North Hills Christian School.

Knox arrived at North Hills a couple of years ago to coach the middle school youngsters, but he was elevated to varsity coach early in the 2022-23 season.

“North Hills is a good place to be,” Knox said. “The school has good people, and it’s more diverse and open now than a lot of people realize. People ask me if North Hills can really play basketball, and I can honestly tell them that we’ve got a pretty good thing going out here. We’ve got good players. The program and the school are going to continue to grow. We’re adding a gym. They may add football one day. We get a lot of support from the executive director (Maria Lowder) and the AD (Brett Arrowood).”

Knox was the glue man for the SHS Hornets in three sports, a quarterback and a leader both by voice and by example. His classmates in an amazing Class of 2011 at Salisbury included Darian Rankin, one of the state’s most electrifying athletes, and Romar Morris, acknowledged as the swiftest man in the state and the NCHSAA Male Athlete of the Year.

So Knox has seen talent and understands talent. He believes he has special talent at North Hills and is confident that three of the Eagles’ seniors can play next-level basketball.

North Hills plays a schedule that includes wild fluctuations. Some opponents are very weak, and North Hills can and does beat them by 60.

There are also challenging games, like a recent last-second road loss at Union Grove. North Hills shoveled a 17-point hole with a lethargic start and couldn’t dig all the way out.

Knox, as you might imagine, lives for the tough games. Those are the ones that matter. Competition builds teamwork and character.

That’s the big picture.

Knox always has gotten the big picture. Even when he was playing quarterback on a pro team in Sweden, his mind was always on the future after his playing days were over, getting back home, passing on his knowledge, leaving his mark on the next generation of youngsters.

Knox has a player who is making some waves at North Hills.

When Champ Hayden, a guard listed at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, opened the season with 52 points and North Hills scored 104, a lot of people noticed. Hayden has had more huge games. He’s had a 1,000-point celebration. He’s also had games where opponents were able to slow him down and force him to take high-volume shots to get his points.

After 10 games, North Hills is 8-2 and Hayden is averaging 33.3 points on 56-percent shooting. He averages almost 10 rebounds per game.

Hayden is strong and quick, overpowers most high school defenders and can get to the rim under control. He handles the ball smoothly. He’s a solid foul shooter. His 3-point shooting — 3o percent — is the only cause of concern for college coaches, but Knox is confident that percentage will rise as the season plays out.

“Champ is a really good player,” Knox said. “If I had to compare him to someone in Rowan County who played at the public schools, I would say he reminds me a lot of Oshon West, who was a really strong scorer and rebounder at North Rowan. Champ is someone we need a double-double from every game. He can get to the hole and he can shoot. He has really nice form on his shot. He’s just got to navigate games consistently and get to his spots. With all the defensive attention he draws, he can create a lot of things for his teammates. I’ve told Champ that he’s Batman for us, but even Batman needs the Justice League.”

Malachi Strong, a 6-foot-1 senior who averages 15.0 points and 7.8 rebounds, is a consistent force for the Eagles.

Jerrod Drye, a 5-foot-5 buzz saw, is a ball-handler who averages 16.2 points and 5.1 assists.

“He’s quick with the ball and quick on defense,” Knox said. “He can play.”

Hayden, Strong and Drye combine for about 64 points per game.

North Hills, 7-0 in home games, also gets contributions from junior shooter Zachary Strickland and senior Rylan Talbott, who gives the Eagles some height at 6-foot-5.

Adarion Hawkins is a freshman point guard with a bright future.

“We’ve got several good young guys in the program,” Knox said.

The next game for North Hills is at home against Hickory Christian Academy on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Knox already has started looking forward to the Christmas tournament North Hills will play in at Rock Hill’s Northwestern High.

North Hills will play a Rock Hill private school on Dec. 21 and will take on Olympic, a large, traditional Charlotte public school on Dec. 22.

How well the Eagles stack up against Olympic will be something to keep an eye on.

“I think our guys get it,” Knox said. “I preach every day that it’s not OK to be comfortable with what they’ve done so far. We’ve got to get more consistent and we’ve got to learn to go hard 100 percent of the time.”