By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

6th in a series of previews on local basketball teams …

CHINA GROVE — Carson’s 2023-24 boys basketball team lost a close, first-round road game at Asheboro in the 3A state playoffs to conclude a 15-10 season.

‘We talked about winning enough games to start the playoffs at home the next season,” Carson head coach Brian Perry said. “We left the gym in Asheboro that night thinking we were in pretty good shape going forward.”

That was a reasonable mindset, as Carson had relied heavily on two juniors and three freshmen. They’d be losing some toughness from the senior class, guys like Jay McGruder, Chasen Hall, DJ Williams and Tristen McBride, but their minutes looked replaceable by players moving up from the jayvees.

But things happen. One of the junior starters, Colin Ball, decided to graduate early and get his college studies started. Ball was the fifth scorer last season, but he scored over 600 career points and he was a tenacious rebounder.

The Cougars worked to replace Ball in the summer months and tore through their camp schedule, but as a new season gets started Perry doesn’t quite have the team he hoped to have.

Maverick Walters, a tall lefty shooter who had some moments last season, is also a tall lefty pitcher, and he’s going to focus on baseball. That’s the sport he’ll play in college.

Simeon Parker, a strong, power forward type, started for the Cougars on the summer circuit and did well, but Parker’s ceiling is higher in football and he decided not to play hoops this season.

“So we’ve got to find some depth, got to try to develop some depth,” Perry said. “It is what it is. We’ve always taken the mindset here of not saying ‘Why me?’ We’s rather say ‘What’s next?’ We’ll figure it out. We’ve always got a thin roster. We don’t have a middle school where we get all their players. We’re never exactly sure who we might have. We’ve never had to cut many guys. The most guys who have ever come out here was in 2006 when we opened and everyone figured they had a chance.”

A lack of experienced depth will make Carson more vulnerable to foul trouble than last year and an injury could be devastating.

But the Cougars should have four who can play with anyone’s four. Carson returns three of the county’s top 10 scorers in sophomore CP Perry, the coach’s son, sophomore Jacob Mills and senior Jonah Drye.

“They’re all a little taller, stronger and better,” Coach Perry said.

Perry is an explosive, skilled athlete who can score, pass and rebound. He averaged 18 points per game.

Mills, who averaged 14.8 points, is such a deadly shooter that the other aspects of his game can be overlooked, but he is long and he can rebound, and he can score big even if teams are able to take away the 3-point line.

Drye, who averaged 11.5 points, is a solid combo guard and another strong 3-point shooter. It doesn’t really matter to the Cougars if Drye or Perry is operating at the point. They both can make plays for their teammates.

Coach Perry is certain the guy who is going to take the biggest jump this season is 6-foot-5 sophomore Drew Neve, who averaged 9 points per game.

“He’s going to be playing a lot more minutes, full starter minutes,” Perry said. “So his numbers are going to go up a lot. He creates a lot for us. He’s active on the boards, he can shoot the 3, and he’s a good passer. We’re going to really need him to play well.”

Now the Cougars just have to figure out who’s going to be five, six, seven and eight.

Xavier Phillips started the opening night win at Mount Pleasant. A receiver on the football team, he’s fast and athletic. Carson doesn’t really need him to score, but the Cougars can use his aggressive defense.

Senior guard Corbin Hales can be an important player. He has been in the program four years, and while he hasn’t played a lot on the varsity, he understands the system as well as anyone.

With Mills sidelined by a sprained ankle on Thursday, Hales made three 3-pointers to help sink A.L. Brown.

Jacob Rockwell is expected to be a key player off the bench. He plays golf and football, so he only does basketball during the season, but he’s an athlete. It’s mostly going to be a matter of figuring out exactly where he fits in. He made a 3-pointer on Thursday.

Jaxson Martin is being counted on to help in the backcourt.

The roster also includes Ryan Kluttz, a transfer from South Rowan, and sophomore Eli Covington, a good athlete who is expected to play for the jayvee team, but also will get some varsity time.

Daylan Patterson is trying to come back from a broken leg and could help the Cougars.

Kurt Misenheimer and Gene Doby will be assisting Perry.

“Our league (South Piedmont Conference) may not have that super team like Central Cabarrus was the last few years,” Coach Perry said. “But there’s going to be a lot of solid teams. We should be able to compete.”