Private school basketball preview: Gaston Day looking to reload

GASTONIA — For Gaston Day to earn another 20-win season, it will need strong performances from two key players: One with basketball in his blood and another with ice in his veins.

Spartans head coach John Whitley will count on sophomore guard Corey Raley, younger brother of former Gaston Day standout and current South Carolina Gamecock Brandis Raley-Ross, to carry the scoring load. The 6-foot-3 shooter averaged 12 points and more than five rebounds per game last year, but will be leaned on heavily to get the young Spartans’ offense rolling.

“We actually lost our regular starting five from last year. Corey was really our sixth man as a freshman,” Whitley said. “But we feel like he can be one of the best players we’ve had here. There are not many more athletically gifted players around than Corey.”

Several colleges have already expressed interest in the sophomore, who Whitley thinks isn’t quite yet done growing.

“If Corey will continue to work hard, he has a chance to be even better than Brandis,” Whitley said. “But he has a long way to go. He’s got three years to get there, and that’s an exciting concept.”

The Spartans are not as big as in years past, so much of the post play is riding on the shoulders of Hjalti Fridrikkson, a 6-foot-7 transfer from Iceland.

Fridrikkson, who has played with the Iceland 19-and-under national team, came to the United States for the sole reason of sharpening his game. He already has the kind of mid-range jump shot that European players are known for, plays decent defense and gets up and down the floor very well for a guy his size. He could use a little extra bulk in his upper body, however, to take on the more physical players on the schedule.

As one of the few seniors on the roster, he’ll also take on a somewhat surprising role as a team leader.

“He’s one of best floor leaders I’ve had in a long time,” Whitley said. “He’s extremely vocal, especially when you consider English isn’t even his native language.”

Terrone Steffey is an interesting prospect who could also play a large role this season.

The 6-foot junior has lived in Japan the last several years (his father is in the Air Force) and attended an American school there. But his parents felt like he would be best served by completing his high school education back in the States, and his grandfather recommended Gaston Day because of its academic reputation.

“It’s sort of unusual in that basketball wasn’t what brought him, here,” Whitley said. “He didn’t know much about the basketball program. But once I put him through workouts, we knew we had something there. He can be the true point guard we need.”

Sophomore Pet Sumner brings a nice outside shooting touch, and veteran swing player Scott Nelson is a coach’s dream.

“He’s the guy who just does exactly what you need him to,” Whitley said. “He’s got experience in the program. He’ll be a big factor and fill a bunch of roles on the team.”

It’s possible that Hans Brase, a ninth-grader, will come off the bench and pay a critical role as a backup post player. Bishal Johal, Ryan Dul, Scott Miller and Guy Monagas round out the varsity roster.

It’s those players, not the stars, which Whitley says will determine how far into the postseason the Spartans will go.

“I think we’re a better team this year, actually,” Whitley said. “But we’ll go as far as the bench and role players take us. Our first four guys are very strong. But it takes a team to win a championship, and that’s our goal this and every year.”

You can reach Derick Moss at 704-869-1841.