LAFAYETTE RAMBLERS

dous amount of work and we’re seeing the benefits of it.

“We’re returning a lot of guys that played a lot of minutes last year, but those guys have even improved from where they were last year and we’ve got some young guys that have come on that I think will impress some people.”

While Lafayette did lose two seniors, including standout Jon Morgan, the Ramblers are set to reload with eight seniors, the majority of whom started or played significant minutes last year.

Peppers said that wing/ forward Rylan Russell is healthy and is in the best shape of his life. Russell had some big games down the stretch for the Ramblers last year and is one of the team’s better outside shooters. Tyrese Marsh, who can play the 2 or the 3-spot, has also made some impressive gains in the weight room and has improved his offense to go with an already strong defensive game.

A hard- working post player, Dee Southern has been a fixture in the starting lineup since his freshman year. Southern can score and rebound inside and also shoot from the perimeter. He averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds in three state tournament games last season. In the backcourt, Vyshonn Daniel is a dynamic, athletic guard with good offensive and defensive skills. Peppers said that Daniel has also benefited from a leadership standpoint with a season as the starting quarterback on the Ramblers’ football team.

Another four-year starter is the versatile Andrew Pendergrass, who can play on the wing or at the post. Pendergrass has hit his share of big shots in the past and is working to become even more aggressive on the offensive end. Peppers called guard Hunter Woodward “the epitome of a team-first player”, someone who works hard everyday to push his teammates while embracing his own role. After playing primarily with the JV team last year, Larell Hampton will bring a natural energy to the team, as well as additional size and athletic ability.

Then there is the final senior, All-state player and college prospect Alex Kelehear, who earned Walker County Boys’ Player of the Year honors after averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.3 steals a game as a junior. Kelehear shot 42 percent on 3-pointers and 89 percent from the free throw line a year ago and spent the summer honing his game and more than holding his own on the travel ball circuit with and against some of the best players in the Southeast.

“Alex is the hardestworking, most competitive player I’ve ever been around,” Peppers said. “He’s like another coach out there on the court.”

The current roster consists of just one more player from each of the other three classes.

Junior Asa Deal has a tremendous amount of upside in the post. A bluecollar player with size and strength, Deal is a physical rebounder who is expected to have a significant role this season. The sophomore class is represented by Decameron (Cam) Porter, the team’s tallest player at nearly 6-foot-5. Porter has added muscle and has good outside range to go with his skills around the basket.

The varsity’s final player is freshman Jalen Ramsey, who Peppers said can expect to play plenty of meaningful minutes this season. An athletic guard, Ramsey has tremendous quickness and plays with a fearless attitude.

Chris Logan and Jesse Peppers will be back to assist the Ramblers on the bench this season.

But even with all that offense, Peppers said his team’s strength is in its defensive game.

“We like to pride ourselves on our defense and we make that a priority,” he explained. “To control things on the defensive end, you have to control the boards and that’s the key against anybody you face. But we don’t just preach that, we actually train our guys with individual defensive fundamentals and team concepts. We do lots of drills and lots of reps on the defensive side. The teams that consistently improve at the little things and pay attention to details are the teams that finish strong and have great seasons.”

Peppers knows that his team will have an even bigger target on its back this time around, but he said his guys aren’t paying too much attention to that.

“We’re just focused on getting better every day and that’s the message we preach everyday at practice,” he added. “At the end of the day, you’re competing against your own potential. There’s never a day off and never a break from trying to get better.”