Changes abound for boys’ basketball

Written by Andy Brown

Wednesday, 17 June 2009 07:00

Adam Daugherty (left) and another camper go for a loose ball during the boys’ basketball team camp Thursday at Louisburg High School. The week-long camp was a way for coach Chad Harvey to get to know his new team. (Photo by Andy Brown)

It has only been three weeks since Chad Harvey officially took over as the Louisburg boys’ basketball coach, but his fingerprints are already all over the program.

Harvey formed five teams to play Mid America Youth Basketball throughout the summer, and those teams have already completed their first round of tournaments. He conducts two practice sessions a week at the high school and just finished up his team camp.

A new regime has taken over Wildcat basketball, and the players are taking notice. Whether it is doing push-ups after a missed layup or just working on the fundamentals, Harvey is molding a new team, but more importantly a new attitude.

“It has been going good,” Harvey said of his first few weeks as head coach. “The kids definitely know how to work hard, but it is just a matter of breaking some bad habits they have gotten and putting in the system we are trying to do. We are fighting frustration levels right now, and they are getting frustrated when they can’t get it right away. Overall, they know how to work hard, and that is the thing I am most excited about.”

Harvey, who helped Basehor-Linwood win the Class 4A state title as an assistant coach last season, has already brought a new way of thinking. He has brought a new system and some new priorities.

He also wants his team to have the same mind-set his players at Basehor had — a winning attitude.

“They don’t know what it is all about yet,” Harvey said of his current team. “They are still kind of wide-eyed when they play a certain team. The one thing with the kids at Basehor is they didn’t care who they played. They just wanted to put that jersey on and go play. We are starting to see that come through during camp. Once we get that mentality, you are going to see a big difference.”

Harvey has used his time so far this summer, including his team camp, to work on several fundamentals — namely defense.

“Everything we do starts with defense,” Harvey said. “Our offense is going to be generated off our defense, and that is what I have really ingrained in these kids. I am a defensive-minded coach. We are going to play a lot of man defense and a lot of high pressure man. We are not going to do a lot of full court press, but once you come across half court, we are going to attack you. It is going to be hard to score.”

Harvey isn’t the only new coach to the Wildcat program. Former West Franklin coach Jason Nelson is the new junior varsity coach, and Ryan Reed will take over the freshman team. Reed helped coach with Harvey at Basehor.

The players have gotten to know the new coaches a little, and Harvey knows those relationships will be key once the season starts.

“It has been easy for the simple fact that these are good kids and they are easy to coach,” he said. “They have responded to me in a positive way, and we are starting to build relationships. I think that is the biggest part of it and that is why I coach. We are going to be a tight-knit family.”

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