Future is now: Four juniors leading Huskies' playoff run

GASTONIA — With four talented juniors cracking this season’s starting lineup, Hunter Huss could be a scary opponent a year from now.

But there’s no time like the present.

The Huskies believe they’re old enough — and experienced enough — to win a state title this season. That quest continues tonight as Hunter Huss (22-3) takes on Lenoir Hibriten (19-9) in the 3A Western Regional semifinals at UNC Greensboro’s Fleming Gym.

“Nothing less than a ring,” said T.J. Wilson, one of the four juniors. “I don’t think our season is where I want it to be without a ring.”

The Huskies are three wins away.

Wilson joins fellow juniors Jihad Wright, Jontavian Hall and Jarvis Anderson in the starting lineup with senior Quintin Smith.

That unit isn’t nearly as youthful as it sounds. Wilson, Hall and Anderson were on the varsity roster as freshmen. All four of them started as sophomores, leading the Huskies to a 13-12 record, including a 9-3 mark in the Big South Conference.

In other words, advancing to Greensboro with a bunch of juniors came as no surprise.

“I was disappointed we didn’t get to the regional last year,” head coach Ron Bray said.

The four juniors have led the way all season. They occupy the top four spots in all major stat categories, and account for 69.6 percent of the team’s scoring.

Wright is the team’s top scorer at 15.7 points per game while Wilson (13.3 ppg) and Hall (13.0 ppg) also score in double figures. Anderson leads in rebounding (7.8 rpg), Hall leads in assists (6.2 apg) and steals (3.8 spg).

Bray believes this group is special because they’re unselfish and like to see other succeed. Hunter Huss principal Denece Farris has noticed the same thing as she’s observed some of the higher-profile players rooting for their teammates from the bench.

“They’ll hit each other and go ‘Look’ when something’s going well,” she said. “They’re very supportive of each other.”

Although it’s early in the recruiting process, Western Carolina has offered scholarships to all four, Bray said, and Wichita State has offered Hall.

Hunter Huss reached the regional after one blowout and two nailbiters in the sectionals. The Huskies beat R-S Central 84-54 in the first round, then got past Hickory 75-64 in overtime before holding off Freedom 51-45.

“It’s what we were supposed to do,” Wilson said of the playoff run. “I think it says we’ve got good chemistry and we care about each other because we’ve been best friends ever since we got here.”

Bray believes the juniors have room to grow as long as they maintain a desire to improve. And the competition among the four can only help their maturation.

“They’ll be so much stronger,” Bray said. “I think they’re going to be really great players as seniors.”

But their junior season isn’t over yet. If the Huskies are victorious tonight, they’ll play for the regional championship Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center. A win there would put Huss in the state title game a week later in Chapel Hill.

“We’re trying to get it for our seniors,” Wright said. “They’ve been working hard for four years.”

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.