Team Preview: Rejoice Christian (3A)
Rejoice Christian claimed the Gold Ball in 2019 before making a move to 3A. “Last year, we were on our way to the State Tournament and felt really good about it,” Rejoice coach Zac Briscoe said. “And then COVID hit.”…
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Continue ReadingRejoice Christian claimed the Gold Ball in 2019 before making a move to 3A.
“Last year, we were on our way to the State Tournament and felt really good about it,” Rejoice coach Zac Briscoe said. “And then COVID hit.”
Briscoe said Rejoice has graduated every player who received playing-time during the 2019 State Championship game.
Three players who played in 2020 return. The first, senior Harrison Hunnicutt, was a part-time starter last season.
“Hunnicutt is probably our most experienced and our oldest kid,” Briscoe said. “Played a lot last year, decent chance he’s our leading scorer this year.
“We’ll run a lot of stuff through him,” Briscoe said.
Sophomore Chance Wilson, who also starts for Rejoice at quarterback, returns after spending most of his freshman season in the starting lineup.
“Chance is a really athletic kid, and he just does a little bit of everything,” Briscoe said. “He’s gonna bring us some defense, he’s gonna make some athletic plays getting to the rim, he’s got great vision.
“He’ll do a good job of getting his teammates open,” Briscoe said.
The final returning player from last season, sophomore Jaren Foote, was a back-up point guard for the Eagles in 2020 but will have an expanded role in 2021.
“[Foote] is a really skilled guard, can shoot it, can really handle it, high iQ,” Briscoe said, “so we’re excited for him and the role he’ll have.”
Two newcomers, freshman Gabe Patterson and senior Griffin Paul, will round out the Eagles’ starting lineup.
“Gabe is about 6-foot-2, inside-out kind of guy, can step out and shoot it, can go play around the rim and be real physical,” Briscoe said. “We really like Gabe a lot, we think he’s probably gonna score a lot for us this year.
“[Paul]’s a senior. . . probably would have played for us last year, but he dislocated his shoulder and had surgery before the season,” Briscoe said. “He was a guy that was on varsity the year we won state.”
Leadership from Paul and Hunnicutt will be pivotal for the Eagles, Briscoe said.
“I like the leadership they’ve had, I like the energy they’ve had in they gym trying to lead these young guys and showing them how to do it right,” Briscoe said. “The sooner these young guys figure that out, the better we’re going to be.”
Briscoe said defense, rebounding and ball-security will be instrumental keys to Rejoice’s success.
“They’ve got the ability to do all of that kind of stuff, but there’s a certain level of toughness and competitiveness that goes into it,” Briscoe said. “There’s a big difference between freshman & J.V. ball and going and playing in varsity games.
“We think this group is going to get back to what those last two groups have been,” Briscoe said.