Left: 2009 Payton Carrell, and 2010 Jaron Vierra
I had a chance to sit down for about a half an hour at the Harker Heights Fall League with veteran Coach Kenny Hoffpauir. He's in his 2nd season with G Town after stints in Midland and Highland Park. We chatted about his team, and exchanged points of view on the worth of summer club basketball, teaching camps, and player development. It was a great conversation.
It had been a while since Georgetown had made the playoffs, until this past season. Last year's team was pretty talented and this year's version will be hard pressed immediately to replace the backcourt of 6'6" G Travis Jones, now at Lon Morris JC and shooter Scott Hurley who will be firing up 3 pointers this year at McMurray, in Abilene.
One of the top players in the Class of 2012, Michael Hardge will have an opportunity to vie for varsity minutes in his freshman campaign. Keep an eye on him as the future of Georgetown basketball. 2011 6'4" W Logan Webb also figures to log significant minutes, giving the Eagles a nice nucleus for the long haul.
However, if the Eagles want to build on last year and return to the post season they'll rely on a talented frontline starting with 2009 6'3" W Xavier Williamson a transfer from Killeen Elison.
The real strength of the squad though could well be the twin towers of 2010 6'6" Jaron Vierra and 2009 6'7" Payton Carrell who both have big game summer experience under their belts in the past with the Texas D-1 Ambassadors. Both these guys are very springy athletes with a bounce in their step and enough beef on them to bully guys inside. Carrell is benching 245 to go along with his 36" vertical, which makes him almost as strong as Old Coach Max (although my vert is a shade under 36"...come to think of it, many shades..lol)
