New Trojans coach expecting big things this season

New Hot Springs Trojans coach Antoni Lasker is excited about the opportunity he has. Lasker, who was an assistant the previous two years, takes over for Rodney Echols, who is now the athletic director for the Hot Springs School District. “I plan to continue the success that Hot Springs has had the previous six years,” Lasker said. “Coach Echols has done an amazing job with these young men and this program. Now it’s time to take this thing to another level.” A year ago, the Trojans had another outstanding season, finishing 24-12 overall and 15-2 in league play. They advanced to the semifinals of the Class 5A State Tournament, where they lost to Little Rock Parkview 51-37. Hot Springs beat Greenbrier 61-49 in the first round and Blytheville 40-32 in the quarterfinals. “The plan is to always exceed what we did the year before,” Lasker said. “We have ramped up our players’ workload this preseason in order to maximize their effectiveness during the season.” The Trojans return four starters off last year’s squad. They include sophomore point guard Jaydyn Walker, junior forward Santiair Thomas, senior guard Eddie Miles and senior forward Ramello Cason. Walker averaged 9 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists per game last season. Thomas averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds. Miles averaged 7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Cason averaged 3 points and 4 rebounds. Lasker said Thomas is his best inside player. “He finished around the basket very well,” Lasker said. “He’s a tenacious rebounder and great overall defender and has great leadership.” Lasker said Walker is his best outside player. “Jaydyn controls our team and runs the show for us and has great leadership,” Lasker said. Depth is a strength for the Trojans this year, the coach said. “We can go 10 deep,” Lasker said. “We can play a variety of styles, either slow-pace or uptempo.” The one weakness that Lasker mentioned is having six of his top players playing for the Trojans football team. “Having about six guys that we will depend upon this year currently in football is tough,” Lasker said. “We will overcome that by getting them in as soon as football season is over and working their tails off.” The Trojans will be in the 5A-South this season with Hot Springs Lakeside, Texarkana, Benton, El Dorado, Little Rock Fair, Lake Hamilton and Sheridan. Lasker said games against Lake Hamilton on Jan. 15 and Feb. 8 and Pine Bluff on Dec. 18 will be ones to watch. “For Lake Hamilton, both teams are coming off conference championships, and it’s a city rivalry,” Lasker said. “For Pine Bluff, they always have a good team that makes the state tournament year after year. We will also play Little Rock Central. This will be a test for our guys against basketball players from central Arkansas.”

We can go 10 deep. We can play a variety of styles, either slow-pace or uptempo.” ANTONI LASKER HOT SPRINGS TROJANS COACH

Lasker said the toughest opponents will be Lake Hamilton, El Dorado and any team the Trojans play in the tournament at Fayetteville High School. “The first two schools have key players returning and should be even better than last year,” Lasker said. “Any team we face in the Fayetteville tournament is a state-tournament team year after year.” Lasker said Walker, Thomas, Campbell, Miles and sophomore Kaleb Hughley can all play collegiate basketball. “All of these young men have the qualities and the work ethic to play at the next level,” Lasker said. The Trojans will open the season Nov. 27 at Hope. “You should expect to see a team that will play their hearts out each and every night,” Lasker said. “You will also see a very fastpaced and entertaining brand of basketball. “This is an experienced group.”