Waynesburg Central boys preview: New coach Juliano looks to turn around Raiders鈥� fortunes
The hope is to change the fortunes of the Waynesburg Central boys basketball team
The Raiders finished at 3-18 overall last season and went 1-11 in section play.
Enter new coach – Mike Juliano – who was an assistant coach last season for Cameron (W.Va.) High School’s girls team that won a state title in West Virginia.
“I love the game,” Juliano said. “My high school coach had a tremendous impact on my life and I hope to have a similar impact on everyone that plays for me. When we won the state title at Cameron last year and the year before, Coach Tim Pannett — my former high school coach at Edison High School in Ohio — was the first phone call I made to share in the celebration.
“I hope to impact the guys in a way that I am their first phone call when significant events happen in their lives.”
Waynesburg’s top returning players are sophomore forward Austin Surber, junior guard Alex Vansickle, sophomore forward Dane Woods and sophomore forward Jackson Dean
Other top players include freshman guard Cole Headlee, junior center Alex Eck, sophomore forward Austin Surber, freshman forward Caden Fowler and senior center Devan Gustafson.
“Cole Headlee is our freshman point guard,” Juliano said. “He is very talented, can score on all levels and has a high basketball IQ. Though young, he is a leader and we go as he goes. Vansickle has worked hard all offseason to improve all aspects of his game. He is a solid defender and is a go- to shooter for us on the offensive end.
“Dean is poised and experienced, can shoot and score and is a calming force for our guys. Woods is a returning All-County Freshman of the Year. He was the leading scorer and rebounder for us last year. He is strong and defends and rebounds at a high level. On the offensive end, he is a floor general and can play with or without the ball. One of our vocal leaders.
Juliano continued, adding, “Eck is a physical specimen. He is long and can jump. He has a nose for the ball and can rebound at a high level. Austin Surber is a returning guard and is the “energizer bunny” for us. Though he won’t need to handle the ball as much as in the past, he is athletic and quick and can score in a variety of ways. He is an energetic defender and can do a little bit of everything for us.”
Two others, one young and one older, figure big into Juliano’s plan.
“Fowler will play a significant role for us,” Juliano said. “He has size and physicality, and has gained confidence from a successful football season. He will be a physical presence for us on both ends of the floor.
“Gustafson has been around for a while and has experience and understands his role. He is athletic and can jump and will be a rim protector for us.”
Juliano said the team’s strengths are expected to be “depth at almost every position and being versatile with young talent.” He added that the team’s youth will be its weakness
“(I want to see) growth throughout the year, consistency, positive energy and enthusiasm,” Juliano said. “We need to defend at a high level, rebound, run the floor and play with pace and space.”
Juliano expects a balanced section.
“I see us competing for a spot in the top four and a playoff spot,” Juliano said. “Everyone in the section is tough. Mount Pleasant, Yough, and Wash High will be solid. Everyone is in the mix.”