Coach Barnes Stressing Team Unity For Andrew Jackson Academy 2024-25 Boys’ Basketball
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Ehrhardt—Andrew Jackson Academy Athletic Director, and head boys’ basketball coach, Josh Barnes is starting his 15th season on the hardwood with the Warriors, and he is focused on total team unity, to the point he considers all 10 of his varsity players “potential starters.”
Last year the Warriors, with no seniors on the team, finished 18-17 and 5-5 in their SCISA AA region making it to the semi-finals in the play-offs.
“I am not naming starters because I feel like all 10 of our players will be major contributors this season,” said Coach Barnes, a proud Citadel graduate. “Our goals this season are focused on team unity and unselfishness.
“Last season we were a very balanced scoring team with numerous players averaging in double figures,” said Coach Barnes. “Our success will depend on the team having balanced scoring once again.”
The season will begin on November, 18 with a home gamer against Curtis Baptist.
Based on last year’s final stats, the Warriors should be led once again by senior combo-guard prospect Gage Dicks. Dicks, who is listed among the top senior guards by recruiting services in the region, averaged 18.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals a game.
In an earlier interview, Coach Barnes, complimented Dicks as a very good shooter with above average ball skills.
Senior point guard Hayden McClung (5-9) returns after averaging 15.3 points and 5.9 rebounds a game as a junior. Sophomore shooting guard Oliver Barnes (6-0) is also back after an impressive freshman season where he averaged 11.3 points, 2.9 points, and 1.6 assists a game. Senior small-forward Carter Brown (6-0) is also back after he helped the team’s success last year with 9.4 points and 8.4 rebounds a game. Brown led the team in rebounding.
Junior guard-forward Hall Sease can use his 6-2 height either on the inside or outside. Sease averaged 8.6 points and 6.5 rebounds a game last season.
Junior newcomer power forward Vashahd Schofield is a 6-4 power forward who will most certainly have an immediate impact for the Warriors success this season. He is expected to be a force inside on the boards and he is listed as a prospect by Prep Hoops. The combination of Schofield on the inside and Dicks on the outside, certainly makes the AJA boys’ team an early favorite to compete for a state SCISA AA championship this season.
(Coach Barnes is avoiding any comments about winning a state championship as he is more focused on team unity and competing “one game at the time” this season.)
The one player up from the jayvee is junior forward Tanner Chassercau who will add depth to the perimeter game of the team. Senior forward Jacobe Best returns to the team, along with 6-2 sophomore Elijah Davis who contributed 2.2 rebounds a game last season. Junior forward Tres Mixson is also back.
“We will continue to be up-tempo on offense, and we hope our over-all team depth, will allow us to keep fresh players on the court most of the time,” said Coach Barnes. “Our goal is to develop a mentally tough team with hard physical practices that push our players to the limits of their talent. We are stressing player development and growth with every practice and every game.”
The Warriors will be competing in a SCISA AA region with teams from Bethesda Academy, Cross Schools, Beaufort Academy, Holy Trinity and Thomas Heyward.
The Warriors will compete in a Christmas Tournament hosted by Blackville-Hilda High School December 26-30. “We know that every team will be high quality at this public-school event, where our players will be challenged by excellent competition,” said Coach Barnes. “This tournament should get us ready for a very competitive region schedule after the holidays.”
Coach Barnes is assisted by Marcus Riveria, including former players Zachary Bolten and Chandler Hayden, along with Doyle Hayden.
