You knew when head coach Damon Turner took over the reigns at Tech that he would seek to compete and build a winner. Mission accomplished. As he heads into his second year with the Titans, the talent is there to make a deep run into March.
At Open Gym, the players work hard to get ready for the season. Returning from last year are Dayveon Turner, 6’0″ senior guard and All-City 2nd Team performer and the son of head coach Turner. 6’7″ senior wing Matt Spears, who holds a Tulane offer, also returns. But the Titans don’t end there. Top national recruit Reggie Bass, a 6’5″ guard who is playing football also, is in the Tech program, as is Rasheed Jones. Jones also has D1 offers and is also has great size for a wing at 6’6″. Rounding out a likely Top 5 is 6’7′ Forward Antonio Lisenbee. Lisenbee works hard at this practice on his knocking down jumpers with one of the coaches. He seems more comfortable stepping out taking those shots. Also looking to make an impact this year will be senior guard Tylan Harris, D’Faybian Pittman and 6’4″ junior Tyler Shelton.
Turner knows he has his hands full keeping this talented group together and getting them to jell. “The toughest part for me will be keeping everyone level headed when things get rocky for us”, he says. “We know as coaches that nothing is perfect within the season and even with a talented roster as we might have, there will be times that things will not go our way. How will we handle adversity”?
That is a key question and will be determine the season outcome. What will help a lot with this group is familiarity. Tuner, Bass, Jones and Lisenbee have played together during AAU season with the Team Teague program and won several national tournaments together coming up the ranks. They are comfortable playing together and don’t lack confidence to take and make shots. “Me” was the answer from more that one player when asked who is going to take the last shot in clutch moments. “We’ve got plenty of options”, says the lanky Jones, who comes to Tech after spending his junior year at Elevation Prep.
The Titans are looking to improve on their 11-12 record from last year. They start the season off with two tough opponents (Warren Central and Anderson). As they go through drills and get up and down some during scrimmage, it’s easy to see why they will be a Top 10 program in the state. And maybe even Top 1. Tech has two state championships in its history during the Landon Turner run in 1978 and most recently with Mr. Basketball Trey Lyles in 2014. They are setting the bar high for a reason.
“The talent and buy-in has been great thus far,” says head coach Turner. “Kids are working hard in the weight room and on the court. Seniors are challenging each other every day as well as pushing the underclassmen to step up to the plate and work just as hard”.
With the level of talent, the Titans should have these aspirations. They are one of 10 or so teams who believe they have a real shot at multiple titles. Put Tech towards the top of this list.
“This season, our goal is to win 20 games, compete and win the City and the sectionals and hopefully state”.
It’s a tall task, but Tech is looking ready, willing and able for the assignment.
