By Brian Pitts
Davie Enterprise Record

Coach: Mike Absher (14th season)
Returning players: 7
Returning starters: 4
Record last season: 7-16, 1-11 4A Central Piedmont Conference

MOCKSVILLE —Davie’s boys basketball team fell on hard times in 2013-14, going 4-21 overall and 0-12 in the Central Piedmont Conference. The War Eagles took a few steps forward last year, going 7-16, 1-11.
It appears brighter days lie ahead in 2015-16, and the upward trend should continue beyond this year as there are a number of good-looking young prospects blending with four seniors on this year’s squad.
As for this year, Davie doesn’t have the strongest hand at the CPC table, but it will be interesting to see if it can push toward double-figure wins and make a run toward the league’s midsection.
“We’ve focussed the entire offseason on playing with a high level of energy and playing for each other,” Davie’s 14th-year coach, Mike Absher, said. “We say, ‘Let’s make sure every night we play as hard as we can and let everything else take care of itself.’”
The top returning scorer is a two-sport star, 6-foot-2 Cooper Wall, who just completed a football season in which he was one of the state’s top receivers. Last year he put up one of the top freshman seasons in school history, averaging 13 points and recording five 20-point nights.
Wall’s primary positions will be shooting guard and small forward, but you will see him play every position except center.
Nic Starnes, a senior point guard and a third-year varsity player, was the team’s No. 1 scorer when he went down in the 11th game with a broken hand. He missed the final 12 games.
Also back is forward Jordan McDaniel (11.6 ppg.) and veterans, Dylan Shoffner (7.2), L.P. Mua, Heath Slabach and Gabe Gonnella.
Three players have moved up from the 11-10 junior varsity team, including high-intensity junior Cory Heiner, who led the jayvees with 16.4 points per game. Forward Brandon Horton and guard Will Shepherd add depth.
Freshmen Michael Walton and Peyton Hampton are fine athletes and will be on the varsity. Both are forwards and both will play a lot.
Shane Nixon and Tim Kenney are back as assistant coaches to Absher. Bruce Wallace is the second-year JV coach, and his assistants are Larry Habegger and Ty Woodring. Mike Dinkins is the longtime freshman coach, with Andy Caudle assisting.

Players to watch
Cooper Wall — Wall is an athletic 6-foot-2 player. He can shoot the 3-pointer or throw down a dunk.
Nic Starnes — Team leader went down with an injury last season when he was averaging 11.6 points per game. His return is big, as he’s also an excellent ballhandler and passer.
Jordan McDaniel — The smooth forward can score and Davie is counting on him for rebounds.
L.P. Mua — He’s 6-3 and powerful. Davie is counting on him to rebound against bigger opponents.
Heath Slabach — He’s a shooter. He had five 3-pointers in one game last season.