From potential to production
Auburn University men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl walked into Oak Mountain High School on Sept. 26, hoping to catch a glimpse of Eagles sophomore Will Shaver.
Shaver has received plenty of attention and a number of offers in recent months, based on the potential he has shown. Standing at 6-foot-9 and still growing, he is quickly rising the ranks as one of the top prospects in the area.
The same can be said for fellow sophomores Evan Smith and Wilder Evers, on a smaller scale. Those three players have the capability of helping Oak Mountain get back to the postseason for the first time in a few years, but that remains to be seen.
“We are a non-playoff basketball team,” head coach Chris Love said. “That’s where we are. We didn’t make the playoffs last year, we won 19 games, finished second in the area to Hoover, didn’t make the playoffs.”
Love believes his team has a high ceiling for the 2019-20 season but is not putting the cart before the horse.
“There’s a lot of potential there, but it means nothing,” Love said. “We’ve accomplished nothing. Potential will get you beat.”
The Eagles will boast three seniors this winter, headlined by Zane Nelson, the team’s leading returning scorer. Forward Trey Sullivan started several games last year and was the bright spot of the summer, according to Love. Luke Love is a senior guard who has improved significantly in the past few months.
“They’ve done a great job of leading us,” Chris Love said of the seniors. “They’re hungry. Going all the way back to middle school, they didn’t win a lot of games. Those three guys have stuck with it and worked their butts off and set the standard.”
Noah Young was busy catching passes on the football field from Smith in the fall, but he returns as a starter for the Eagles basketball team. The junior has grown to 6-5 and can play anywhere on the floor. Colin Patrick and Connor Freel are the other two juniors, and both will play key roles as well.
Shaver, Smith and Evers are the highlight of a loaded sophomore class. All three were on the varsity team last winter and are expected to take on more responsibility this season. Brady Dunn, Cam Atkinson and Gavin Nelson are sophomores as well, meaning half of Oak Mountain’s varsity roster is comprised of sophomores.
“We’re young, even though two of [the sophomores] played substantial minutes for us last year,” Love said.
Love has been impressed with Shaver, who has earned the attention he has gotten. Love lauded improvements in his conditioning and work ethic, especially.
“He’s a much, much better basketball player than he was at this time last year,” Love said.
Love said the Eagles can do a multitude of things offensively, because all of the forwards can shoot and handle the ball. On the defensive side of the ball, he expects his team to be able to be more aggressive with the press and trap, in hopes of creating easy offensive opportunities as a result.
“We are probably one of the more athletic teams we’ve ever had here in 20-something years,” Love said. “Evan Smith is the best on-ball defender I’ve ever coached, and it’s not even close.”
Oak Mountain begins its season Nov. 19 at Helena. Also in November, the Eagles will host Hewitt-Trussville and play in Spain Park’s Thanksgiving tournament.