Campbell Preps For B-ball Season
By Jack Danilewicz
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share
Del.icio.usCoaching changes often lead to a dreaded “transition year,“but new Campbell head basketball coach Wyatt Tau expects his team to stay in stride as it begins preparations for the season at the end of the month.
“I told the kids, ‘I’m not here to change anything.’ They already have a good program here. They know how to win. I’m here to get them over that little hump and help them to be better players and people.”
Tau also is the school’s track and field coach as well as an assistant on head football coach Amosa Amosa’s staff. When it comes to the hard-wood, however, Tau has spent the last three years at Aiea, where he led Na Ali’i to a pair of OIA Division II titles as well as an appearance in the Division II state tournament in 2008. Campbell went 12-6 last season under Zaricke Jackson, meanwhile, earning the Sabers’ fifth state tournament appearance in six years along the way.
Campbell began conditioning recently as it moves toward its Nov. 29 start date. For his part, Tau is using conditioning sessions to set the tone. “I’m strict, but I also know how to have fun,” he said. “But I don’t want them dictating the fun. I am going to dictate everything. My coaching is the same if we are 0-9 or 9-0.”
The OIA Red West Conference has been parity-driven the last couple of years and figures to be ultra-competitive again in 2009-10. But if recent history has any impact, the Sabers could emerge from the pack as the best in the West.
Tau will build around key returnees Kristian Manuel, Clayton Darity and Christian Storment, among others. Manuel is a 5-9 guard who will shift from the off guard spot to the point guard position that was manned by his brother Zach last season. Zach Manuel was one of three starters to finish their eligibility.
“The one is like a two in our offense, but he’s also one of our best dribblers, which is why we want him there. We want him controlling the ball for us. He’s used to waiting for the ball since his older brother was bringing the ball up, so it will be a little different for Kristian this year.
“He’s just a good kid who wants to be the best he can be - his will to play the game the right way is his strength.”
At 6-foot-3, Darity projects as a matchup nightmare for teams. “He’s a big man that can control the rock, too,“Tau said.“He’s a mismatch for anyone guarding him with his size. We’d like him to shoot the ball more this year. We want all of our guards to shoot the ball more. He’s been one of the guys who comes to conditioning every day.”
Storment was a key reserve last season and could find his way into the starting lineup this fall.“I’ve seen a lot of effort in him,“Tau said.“He changed a lot in the summer. I think he’ll be a big help to us this year.”
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
