While Hopewell football is certainly a big topic of conversation right now, the focus shortly will be changing as before we know it, basketball season will begin.
Vikings head basketball coach Doug Biega is ready to begin his first season in charge of the boys’ high school program, and he’s surrounded himself with a top-notch staff.
Biega not only has himself an A+ staff at the high school level but has made sure the players in the other programs, such as JV and the Junior High School are getting the necessary instruction by bringing in very qualified and talented coaches.
The thought process is to develop a talented basketball PROGRAM here in Hopewell not just a talented team at the high school. When players inevitably leave via graduation or transfer, players in the system are prepared to step in to replace them.
Here’s a little foreshadowing of what’s going to be happening over the next handful of seasons and to borrow a phrase from WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman, ‘This isn’t a prediction, it’s a spoiler’- ‘Starting This Season, Hopewell Will Win and Will Win a Lot.”
Open gym sessions have started for the junior high players and are being led by Hopewell Junior High coaches Patrick Phillips and BJ McBryde.
Here’s a tremendous sign for the future of basketball in our township along with a sign that kids want to be a part of what’s going on. 33 players are currently on the floor over at the junior high taking part in these voluntary workouts.
Vikings Sports Now caught up with Coach Biega, who is also over at the gym to get his reaction to the tremendous turnout his program is receiving.
“This is a great sign for the enthusiasm around the basketball program,” said Biega. “I always maintained that if you open the gyms, the kids would come. We had over 60 open gyms since I was hired in April. Never less than 8 kids at one of them at the varsity level.”
“This about the 30th open gym for the junior high levels. And now that basketball season is right around the corner, you see this spike in the numbers. Kids love basketball. It’s our responsibility to make it available to them.”
Basketball practices officially get underway in Hopewell on November 14th. Be sure to stick with Vikings Sports Now, who will have you covered in all areas of Hopewell Boys and Girls basketball.