Gaston College's six returnees ready to build on basketball program's first year success
When Gaston College restarted its basketball program last year, players from six states and two countries helped the program return with the success of an 18-10 record and a Region 10 finish that was only one game away from a regular season title.
This season, head coach Jamie Rosser has six players back from that historic team - and each of them is excited about the possibilities for the 2022-23 Rhinos' season that begins Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Gaddis Watts Prep Academy at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.
"Things are going really good," said guard Dee Merriweather, who averaged 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game last season. "I'm excited for the season. We've added some new pieces. I'm looking forward to seeing what we do to put everything together."
Merriweather is one of two returning double-figure scorers - guard DaMarco Watson (11.9 average) is the other - and will be joined by four other returnees in guard Joshua Johnson and forwards Yarayah Evans, Dedrick Givens and Kirk Scoggins. Watson also averaged 3.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists a year ago, while Johnson averaged 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds, Givens 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds and Scoggins 1.0 points; Evans redshirted last season.
"Last year I came in and learned from (former head) coach (David "Dickey") Nutt and (associate head) coach Rosser," Watson said of Nutt, who left Gaston College after the first season to become an assistant coach at Missouri University. "This year, I'm trying to help all of the younger guys to show what that they taught me."
Rosser has said that since the first day of workouts, the veterans have taken an active role in helping sustain a program that has designs on a league title in its first season with eligibility for National Junior College Athletic Association postseason competition.
"It feels good to be a veteran leader," Johnson said. "The leadership of the young guys is worthwhile. I'm trying to guide them in the right way. I'm interested in whatever coach Rosser wants from me; all of the returnees feel that way."
Scoggins, who played at nearby North Gaston High School, knows he and his teammates will be a more established team this season after laying the foundation of the program last season. "Going into it, I really didn't know how we would be because we were a first-year team," Scoggins said. "But we really put it together in just a couple of months. We worked hard and came together and showed people what we could do. We need to do that again this year."
Givens, who played at nearby Charlotte Independence High School, is the top returning post player. "It feels great to be with the guys again," Givens said. "And there are some guys coming in that are really going to help us this year. Our goal is to get a championship!"
Evans sat out last season, which means he's been out of official game action for two years. "The journey is always different," Evans said. "I wished I could've played last year, but I had some setbacks. It's been two years since I've played; this year is going to be special."