By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Salisbury boys basketball head coach Albert Perkins probably shed a few tears during graduation ceremonies, as all-time leading scorer Juke Harris picked up a diploma, alongside Mike Geter, Central Carolina Conference Male Athlete of the Year, and Deuce Walker, Rowan County Male Athlete of the Year.

That was a special Salisbury senior class that also included feisty rebounder Dashawn Brown, but everyone eagerly anticipating a collapse of the program will have to wait at least a few more years.

“I wasn’t overly worried with wins and losses over the the summer, but I was looking for development from our team, and we had plenty of progress,” Perkins said. “I’m satisfied that we’ll be able to continue to play at a high level. We don’t want to go through a rebuild. We’re planning on more of a reload.”

Salisbury played in two summer events, going 9-1.

The Hornets were 6-0 at Catawba’s team camp and 3-1 in a tournament at the Rise Indoor Sports facility in Bermuda Run. The Hornets handled some high-profile opponents — Northwest Guilford, Southwest Guilford and Grimsley — in Bermuda Run. Salisbury lost a close game to Norview (Norfolk, Va.), although an ankle injury to Bryce Dalton was a factor in that one.

A reasonable question is how did Salisbury do what it did.

Start with Dalton, a returning starter at point guard.

Then there’s Braylon Taylor, who scored in double figures 15 times as a sophomore last season and was the Hornets’ No. 2 scorer.

The new name to know is Myles Smith, a senior transfer who was a key part of a 1A NCISAA state championship team at Charlotte’s Victory Christian School. Smith is a 6-foot-4 wing player who can operate above the rim.

“He can run, he can jump, he can dunk, he can shoot, and he can defend,” Perkins said. “He was able to play with us during the summer and he also played for Team United in the Peach Jam. He’s a really talented player and he should get college opportunities.”

Smith’s younger (but taller) brother, Blake Smith, is a rising sophomore who will be counted on to provide a post presence for the Hornets.

As far as bench players who have taken a jump from last season, Perkins listed Keial Matthews, Trey Davis. Macari House and Torian Brown as athletes who have shown this summer they can take on more minutes.

“They’ve waited their turn, they’re hungry, and they want to play,” Perkins said. “Davis has always been able to shoot, but he’s revved up his motor and is playing defense now the way I want to see it. Matthews is versatile, a multi-purpose guy who can do some of the things Juke did for us. House and Brown are football players and there were days they had football and basketball workouts back-to-back, but they stuck with it and they had a very good summer.”

Another Hornet who didn’t play basketball this summer but is expected to be part of the rotation in November is Hank Webb,  a rangy defender with a good 3-point shot. Webb is a three-sport athlete whose college future will likely be as a football puntcr and/or kicker. He focused on kicking camps this summer.

“He had kicking camps when we had basketball games, but I was in communication with him all summer and we’re expecting him to be a big part of our team again,” Perkins said.