By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

Thirteenth in a series of reports on local basketball teams …

KANNAPOLIS — A.L. Brown’s boys basketball team has taken its lumps the last two seasons, but head coach Jonathan Efird believes this can be turner-corning team.

The Wonders shot the lights out on opening night against South Rowan and scored 91 points. Then they showed toughness and resilience at Concord and survived a defensive-minded scrap to get to 2-0.

“Winning in basketball at Concord is something I’d never done,” Efird said. “Not as a middle school player, not as a high school player, not as a coach. That one meant a lot to me and to the guys.”

A road loss to a talented young Carson team provided the first adversity of the season, but Efird knew the Wonders weren’t suddenly going to become world-beaters overnight. He’ll be happy with steady improvement, and the Wonders should provide that. They won only five games last season and two the year before that.

Efird is best remembered in Kannapolis as a fine quarterback for the Wonders during the Ron Massey coaching era, but he also was a good hooper. After a college football career at Western Carolina and UNC Pembroke, his first head coaching opportunities at the high school level came at Pembroke area schools, and they came in basketball. When he got the chance to come back to Kannapolis, he jumped at the opportunity to follow Shelwyn Klutz, who had guided the Wonders successfully for decades.

Efird was hired in the summer of 2021. He’s been playing catch-up in historic Bullock Gym ever since.

“This year we finally had a spring and a summer where our guys could play together,” Efird said. “We went to college camps all over. That development period is so critical, and I think it’s going to make a huge difference for us. We’ve got really good kids, hard workers — we’ve got a good locker room. I know we’re better than we’ve been, but how many wins we can get, I don’t know. We play in basketball league (4A Greater Metro Conference) where you have to bring your hard hat and go to work every night. There are no easy league games.”

Senior Nazir Reaves, a 6-foot-5 forward, will be the leading scorer most nights. He can score in every way imaginable. He averaged 14.2 points and  6.4 rebounds as a junior.

“He’s one of the guys who is in the gym every day, and it all starts with him,” Efird said. “We need him to play like a senior every night.”

Caleb Ford, a 6-foot-3 junior is new to the varsity, but he is expected to be the second scorer. He can knock down 3-pointers, and he’s also a solid rebounder.

Senior guard Kadan Williams will be counted on to score some, but his main role will be as a leader and a facilitator who can get the ball to Reaves and Ford in scoring position.

“Kadan is tough as nails,” Efird said. “He’s our heart. Guys listen to him.”

Sophomore guard Noah Hancock isn’t expected to score a lot, but he could lead the team in steals and floor burns.

“He’s got a lot of grit, and he’s our best defender,” Efird said.

Junior center Larenz Stevenson is 6-foot-6 and the rangy rim-protector makes the Wonders a reasonably big team that can compete on the glass in the GMC.

“He’s long, and when he stands with his arms up, he’s only a foot below the rim,” Efird said. “He’s that X-factor for us. We hope he can gives us a lot of nights with eight points and eight rebounds.”

Junior Masiah Bennermon is an energy guy and a smart player who is projected to handle a sixth-man role.

“He’s a real spark-plug,” Efird said.

Senior Jaylon Adams, another good defender, will jump off the bench quickly, as will Derick Brazil once he’s healthy. A fast receiver, Brazil got banged up some in the football playoff game with Mooresville.

Senior John Ross Jr. is one of Efird’s favorite stories.

“He was cut last year, but he didn’t pout, he just kept working on his game, and this year he made the team,” Efird said. “It’s never easy when someone tells you that you’re not good enough, but he didn’t quit, and he’s earned his way on to this team. He’s always upbeat and plays with pride.”

Junior point guard Ter’ryan Brewer will provide ball-handling, while  senior guard Ryan Lockett can shoot.

“We’ve got some younger guys starting and some seniors coming off the bench,” Efird said. “It could change, but we like the chemistry we’ve got right now.”

The varsity roster also includes Sincere Bunch, Isaiah Suggs and Sutton Springs. They’ll push for playing time in practice. Competition is a good thing and will make all the Wonders better.

“We played 25 or 30 games this summer,” Efird said. “We’re way ahead of where we’ve been the last two years.”

Next for the Wonders is a game at Mount Pleasant and a trip to Purnell Swett, in the Pembroke area, where Efird used to coach the girls team.

Then the Wonders will play in the Dale’s Sporting Goods San Moir Christmas Classic.

 

A.L. Brown boys

Coach: Jonathan Efird (3rd year, 7-40)

2022-23: 5-20 overall, 2-10 Greater Metro Conference (6th)

Playoffs: Did not make playoffs

Top returner: Nazir Reaves

Key addition: Junior Caleb Ford

League:  4A GMC (West Cabarrus, Hickory Ridge, Cox Mill, South Iredell, Mooresville, Lake Norman)