It was an adjustment period for Hauser boys basketball coach Brent Keck when he took over the head coaching duties last year. Due to COVID, Keck didn’t have a lot of time to spend with the team last summer.
In his first full spring and summer with the team, Keck, now into his second year as coach, enjoyed what he has seen so far from his team during the June period in which coaches are permitted to work with their teams in practice and game settings.
“As the season ended last year, I think it was a challenge for everybody involved during the COVID year and with me being the new coach and putting a new system in,” Keck said. “I think we’ve had a great commitment in the spring and in the month of June. I feel really good about what we got accomplished. I’m hoping that will carry over, and that will translate to success.”
The Jets are looking to their most experienced veterans in seniors Bryce Bates, Koby Johnson, Eli Miller and Cole Renner.
Bates finished as the team’s leading scorer last season with 13.9 points per game. Johnson averaged 8.3 points and Miller added 6.2.
“I thought Bryce did a good job improving his skill set. He’s been doing some things we talked about and improving his ability to shoot the basketball out on the perimeter,” Keck said. “Koby Johnson came in and had a great summer. We did address some things we challenged him to work on. I think he had a monster June toward the finish, and I hope that translates into the season. Eli Miller was great, as well. He’s going to become that consistent scorer and be that guy that does it night in and night out.
“(Renner) has worked hard each and every day. He never missed a workout yet. He’s worked his tail off, and he’s going to be that great glue guy that keeps getting us better,” Keck added. “I’m really proud of him, as well as the rest of our four seniors for all of their efforts and their hard work.”
Keck mentioned junior Alex Bower and sophomore Jamison Keller having great summers, as well. The two of them will play a factor into the team’s rotation.
Keck also has a talented freshman class coming in next season. He said Alex Cord, Taeshaun Tungate, Ledger Gelfius and Colin Buck shined this summer and will look to play a factor into the rotation, as well.
Keck said the freshman have shown a lot of promise and will fight for minutes in the varsity rotation next year.
“We’re really excited about our freshman class. It’s a deep class,” Keck said.
Hauser finished 8-15 overall last year, including 2-4 in the Mid-Hoosier Conference, but Keck is optimistic about improving the win mark next season.
“We just think the future of our program is really bright,” he said. “We’re really excited about all those kids and looking forward to next year.”
