Edmond Santa Fe Reloading

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The 2015-16 basketball season kicked off this past week as October 1st marks the day where teams can partake in full length practices. Teams across the state stepped on with a purpose for perhaps the first time since March. Prep Hoops Oklahoma made its first practice visit to watch the Edmond Santa Fe Wolves lace up for a high energy outing.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Flashback to October 1, 2014. The Wolves take the practice floor without two of their top players in 2015 Shooting Guard Curran Scott and 2016 Point Guard Tre Evans. Santa Fe enters this season with some of the same question marks. 2015 Guards DaRon Mims and Daquan Jefferies are those who departed this time after leading the Wolves to a 6A State Tournament Runner-Up finish. As Santa Fe reloads they look to their leaders to carry this team and bring along they younger players.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">“At a school like Santa Fe have athletes so we have a “next man up” mentality”, said 2016 Shooting Guard James Bagwell. “You can&#39;t replace Daron Mims or Daquan Jefferies. You can only take the athletes you have and develop them to play to their best abilities and that what these practices are for.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Developing player seems to be a strength of Head Coach Lenny Hatchett and the Sante Fe coaching staff. Contending in the playoffs year in and year out is only part of the job for Hatchett. The most import part to him is developing young men to be successful wether they have future at the next level or not. That was evident in his practice as every drill was ran to perfection and if it was not the guilty parties were held accountable. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Speaking to his team in the middle of practice, Hatchett stressed the importance of getting deflection and rallying to the basketball. This team has goals in place and through continued tough practices they look to get better and better by the day. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">“We looking to get out there and work hard,” said Hatchett. There are no light days here at Sante Fe.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">That leadership at the helm of this program is what drives the Wolves to be great year in and year out.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">2016 Guard Tyler Williams emerged as one of the state top prospects this summer with the Oklahoma Impact. Williams is a crafty with no decisive speed, but uses his first stipend a physical style of play to get to the rim. The summer circuit proved to be effective for Williams and he sees it in his game today.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">“I feel like AAU season helped me with confidence,” said Williams. “Just going out there and playing with some of the best around the nation you become more comfortable with the player you are.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Playing in the Central Oklahoma Conferences, Santa Fe will regularly face high quality opponents in Mustang, Norman North Edmond North, and Edmond Memorial. This Santa Fe team has the drive to make a deep playoff run. It is up to leaders like Williams and Bagwell to rally around their players and push them to their maximum potential.</span></span></p>