The Statesboro High Blue Devils basketball season is set to begin. Both teams have high expectations for what they want this campaign to look like.
Check out a preview of the upcoming Statesboro High School basketball season from GC Sports’s Ke’Juan Humprhies. Go Blue Devils!
The Lady Devils look to create their own legacy
Statesboro High girls varsity basketball team is led by head coach Marty Holder. The Lady Devils finished with a 22-5 record last season and were the runner-ups for the region championship. They also have a Sweet 16 appearance from last season.
This year is going to be a different challenge for the team as they will look a little different this season. Seniors Alyssa Staten (playing at Northeastern University), Reya Johnson (playing at Fort Valley State University), Demia Hartwell, and Shanaria White will not be suiting up for Big Blue this season.
Coach Holder spotlighted the veterans on this year’s team as players he expects to step up this season.
“We are expecting Gerziya Haggray, Azziza Flowers, Mikiyah Strickland, Maggie O’Neill, and Kennedy Myers to step up and keep our winning tradition going,” Holder said. “Gerziya and Azziza have taken a leadership role on and off the court. Their hard work has motivated other team members to continue growing and getting better daily.”
Despite the success of last year’s team, this is a new season and the record is 0-0. Coach Holder talked about that to this year’s group.
“I am emphasizing that this team create their own legacy,” Holder said. “This team is not last year’s team. We have to find our own way. Each day, each practice, and each game we want to be better than we were the previous day.”
For the past few seasons, the Lady Devils have been one of the best teams in the state and they plan to keep it that way.
“Our primary goal is to continue putting a great product on the floor each and every night for our fans and our community,” Holder said. “We still aspire to be one of the best teams in our new region and continue to make noise in the state.”
Roster
- #1 Gerziya Haggray G Sr.
- #2 Zariyah Major G So.
- #4 Maggie O’Neill G Jr.
- #5 Azziza Flowers F Sr.
- #10 Mikiyah Strickland F So.
- #11 Jalayah Collins G Sr.
- #12 Lindsay Johnson F Sr.
- #15 Janiya Spells F Fr.
- #20 Kennedy Myers C Jr.
- #21 Kennedy Hayes G Fr.
- #22 Savannah Howell F Jr.
- #23 Krystal Foster F Fr.
- #25 Lamya Dietz G Fr
Statesboro Boys Remain on the Hunt
The Blue Devils are coming off of a 21-5 season and a region championship. The season ended in the Sweet 16 of the state playoffs. Head Coach, Keith Legree, is back as the head coach this season.
The boys team has also lost some seniors that played a big part in last year’s success. Kam Mikell, Raylin Grant, Mike Goodman, and Kyan McCollum have all graduated and will not be on the team this season.
The team is relying on returning players like Ja’Caiden Cone, Dartavian Brown, and Camdyn Wilkerson to step up and take on an even bigger role this season.
Roster
- #1 Devin Mikell F So.
- #2 Camdyn Wilkerson F Sr.
- #3 Ja’Caiden Cone G Jr.
- #4 Jordan Grant G So.
- #5 A’kiryon Watkins G So.
- #10 Marcus Hartwell G Sr.
- #11 Dartavian Brown G Sr.
- #12 Beckham Jarrad F Fr.
- #14 Muhammad Shareef G Sr.
- #20 Bruce Davis F Sr.
- #21 Xavier Spells F Jr.
- #24 Charles Harris F Fr.
