Mike Vukovcan All athletes grow and develop at different stages during their junior high and high school years.
Some kids are early bloomers, while others take more time with their development. The only thing that’s certain though is they need to be working on their own to develop as well as needing a stage to do so.
Realizing this, Hopewell High School Boys basketball Coach Doug Biega is changing things up regarding the Vikings team structure for the upcoming season. This will be similar to what Hopewell HS baseball coach Morgan Singletary implemented this past season.
The Hopewell freshmen team will play an independent schedule and be comprised of both developmental 9th grade student-athletes and advanced 8th grade student-athletes.
There will be two Junior High teams- one Blue and one Gold. The Blue will be made up of both 7th and 8th grade student athletes whereas the Gold will be only 7th graders.
“The genesis of this plan was simple,” said Biega. “This gives the advanced players a chance to better themselves by playing a higher level of competition, and gives the players that are in the beginning of their individual development a chance to get more minutes on the court, as well as remain an active participant in the program.”
In other words, if you’re not actively playing basketball, you don’t a chance to get better and reach your true potential. By having multiple teams, all kids will get that chance and no one will get cut.
