All of the basketball players, coaches, and fans are excited for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. There are high hopes for the season, and everyone wants to improve from the previous year. Many of the players are doing getting in better shape for the season. They are doing everything from going to the gym to workout, to playing basketball with each other to get their skills better and better. 

Many of the players go in groups to Walker’s Gym. They go together so they have a little more motivation to keep going. Senior Ryan Strader said, “Being in the gym with my buds and getting stronger is always an amazing experience.” Another thing that players do to prepare for the season is play basketball with each other. They will play in their own driveways, the park, and even have games at the school.

Even the coaches have to get ready for the season. Basketball Coach Jake Talbert said, “This year, I met with Jamie, our trainer, to talk about conditioning. I have also been planning out open gyms, doing different things to make it less monotonous. Soon I will start planning practices and focusing on what we need to improve on.” 

During the summer, the team practices and travels to different shootouts to prepare for the season and get a good look at the talent they will have and face in the upcoming season. The team traveled to schools in three states, including schools as close as Fairfield and Benton and as far away as Greenville University, Gibson Southern in Indiana, and the Rib City Classic in Missouri. Sophomore Sam Braddock commented, “Summer ball was a great opportunity to grow as a player.”