Defending 4-A Champs: Southwest Guilford HS
Southwest Guilford HS
Kobe LangleyGone from the 28-3 2016-17 Southwest Cowboys is 4 year varsity player, 2 time Piedmont Triad Player of the year, and NCA&T commit Kameron Langley (12.5 ppg). Gone is 6’5 All Conference player and Guilford College commit Brandon Lamberth (14.5 ppg). Gone is last year’s Piedmont Triad POY and honorable mention sophomore All American Keyshaun Langley (16 ppg) and his twin brother and fellow All Conference as well as all District player and fellow Virginia Tech verbal commit, Kobe Langley (11 ppg). Finally, gone too soon, was the expected center piece for the 2017-18 Cowboys. Dez Woods (9.3 ppg), a junior who recently passed away in an unfortunate car accident, had a huge summer and a tremendous upside while drawing attention from schools such as Wofford and Winston Salem State.
Lone starter 6’3 wing/forward junior Christian Martin (9.3 ppg) and senior key reserve, sharp shooter Cooper Cunningham (7.5 ppg), are the only Cowboys returning players with consistent varsity experience for a team that averaged 83.7ppg last season during the championship run. Seniors Ty Radford, Jamell Carter, Jalen Snipes and HP Andrews transfer JT Barrett are expected to have significant contributions for the Cowboys if a run is in order this year. Explosive juniors Jay’den Turner and Jo’el Pettiford provide length and athleticism and must also produce at a high rate for Southwest to follow up on last years memorable season.
Although transfers and tragedy have dominated the headlines at Southwest Guilford recently, nobody feels sorry for the defending 4A North Carolina NCHSAA public school champions. The Cowboys now have the challenge of moving down to a top loaded 3A division, which features the Cowboys, defending 3A state champion Cox Mill and defending 2A state champion Jacksonville Northside, who moved up to the 3A ranks this year. The Cowboys have moved to one of the toughest conferences in the state which includes Greensboro Dudley, Smith, and Western Guilford, along with Winston Salem based Parkland, North Forsyth and traditional power Mt. Tabor. Game 2 of this years Southwest Guilford schedule features a November 25th match up with defending 1A state champion Lincoln Charter. This game will be held at the neutral site of Winston Salem Reynolds and is slated for an 8pm tipoff in the Bobby Martin Classic.
Expectations are high, but many foes have circled Southwest as a target to make their own mark during the new season. Southwest will have to find new identity to remain Cowboy Strong and to have continued success, which features over 160 wins during the last 7 seasons.