Probably the most interesting thing that happened was off the court the during the press conference with Word of God’s head coach. Erasto Hatchett, also Ryan Harrow’s brother-in-law, criticized the attitude of his players and the culture that has been at Word of God in previous years during a five minute opening “statement”. There is still speculation that Ryan may transfer mid-year to come to Word of God and play for one the most talented high school teams in the country according to Hatchett. However, after watching the press conference one has to wonder if that move makes sense.
Here are a couple of quotes from the N&O:
“At some point in time, we’ve got to understand there’s not an ‘I’ in team,” Hatchett said.
Hatchett went through each of the players sitting near him, describing them as talented, but with attitudes that will allow them to “self-destruct.” The only one of the four described as not having that sort of attitude, Joel Kindred, was described as joining a team with a detrimental persona that has started to rub off on him.
“I have a heck of a task at hand. And it hurts me to my soul that I feel like I have the most talented team in the country — and what they’ve been exposed to, and the way they’ve been able to kind of get things or feel like things should come easy to them through basketball is going to become a domino effect,” Hatchett said.
“And the game we used to know or have known it as is not going to be any longer. And that’s the truth of the matter.”
“And we’re missing it. We want the entertainment. We want the high-flying. We want the alley-oops and the dunks. And so do I, [but] there’s a way to do it,” Hatchett said.
“I know what I’m trying to give them and instill in these guys is right. Anyone who don’t believe it and anyone who don’t feel that way, then you’re a part of the problem as well. Period.”
I also got to hear Hatchett at Harrow’s signing day event earlier this Fall and I have to say that he is an impressive guy. Based on what he says, he sounds like he has his priorities straight and that he takes the game of basketball and his role has a coach very seriously. Assuming he can win at Word of God, then you have to wonder if he has a future at the college level.
On the court, Ryan Harrow scored 35 points in his team’s win over local school Raleigh Millbrook. After only scoring 6-8 points in the 1st half, Harrow erupted in the 2nd half by scoring 7 points in the final thirty seconds of the 3rd quarter. In the 4th, he continued pouring in points and saved his team from an upset after missing a shot, then tipping the ball one handed to a wide open teammate underneath the basket who scored the game winning bucket with only a few seconds left.
This wasn’t a great game for Harrow. He missed all five three point attempts and if he played well, then he could have easily scored 45-50 points. Instead, he only scored 35 points…when is the last time you could say an NC State commitment only scored 35 points?
This win set up a semi-final match up tonight at 7:20 pm against Kinston who has UNC commitment Reggie Bullock leading their team. Broughton HS’s gym will be packed. If you plan on going, then make sure you get there by 5 pm or else there is no guarantee you will get in the gymnasium. I would almost put this in the “can’t miss” category for local NC State fans despite NC State playing a home game against Winthrop at 7 pm in the RBC tonight.
At 5:40 pm, NC State commitment Luke Cothron’s team, Flora MacDonald, plays against United Faith Christian. These are two of the top private schools in the state and it should be an outstanding game. Cothron had 30 points and double digit rebounds yesterday in his team’s win. This was my first time seeing Cothron and in my opinion he is a better prospect than either of this year’s freshman forwards Painter and Howell. He is legitimately 6’8″, strong, and mobile. He has all the tools and he would be a perfect addition to next year’s team. Rumors from the tournament suggested that his commitment to NC State is solid though Tennessee and Alabama are making a run at him.
