Oct. 19, 2009
by Kathryn Young
"Chase your dreams, some day you might catch one."
Fifty-two student-athletes saw this thought of the day last Thursday as they attempted to catch their dream of playing for the Carolina basketball program. Tryouts were held over the last two weeks to pick this year's junior varsity basketball team.
Coach Jerod Haase welcomed the aspiring players by informing them that this was his least favorite part of the year, not because he didn't enjoy seeing all the new athletes, but because he hates cutting guys off of the team.
"Coach Ford always had 25 players on the JV bench," Haase said, referring to former JV coach Phil Ford, who is now assistant coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. Ford also despised cutting kids off the team, so instead would keep as many as possible. Realistically, though, Haase is looking for 12-14 players to fill his roster this year. He used the tryouts as a series of more-organized pickup games to pit potential players against each other to show their skills. He made cuts after the first two days, then after both 6 a.m. practices the following week.
A new squad
Due to injuries and loss of eligibility, there are open spots on the team for players who did not participate last year. Thanks to these openings, the team chemistry will definitely shift this season as last year's younger players will step up to leadership roles and new players with new talents emerge to fill the previous season's voids.
"There's going to be a lot of new guys on the team," said junior Patrick Crouch, who is returning to the squad after playing last year. "It'll be like a whole new squad, and it's a whole new season and I'm really excited about it."
The players are not complete strangers, however, thanks to pickup games at Rams Head Recreation Center and Woolen Gym. "We kind of know everybody that's been out here just by playing in the off-season so everybody knows each other pretty well," Crouch said. This means the team will not waste precious time in the beginning of the season figuring out each others' playing styles.
The Varsity connection
Almost all of the athletes at tryouts had at least some glimmer of hope for greater things than junior varsity. "In my mind," Haase told the players before the first day, "you all are trying out for varsity." That ultimate goal is what propels many students to try out for the JV team, even if they think they have little chance of making it to the "big time".
Every year, there are a few walk-ons on the varsity team, not only inspiring basketball hopefuls, but publicizing the little-known JV program. Robert Beal, a sophomore, said he heard about the JV team from a hometown hero. J.B. Tanner walked on the team from JV for the 2007-08 season and was also a member of the 2008-09 national championship team. Tanner went to Beal's rival high school and gained much publicity in his hometown of Hendersonville after getting promoted to the varsity program. "He was the reason I tried out," Beal said, "I always wanted to be part of the varsity basketball team but then reality hit, so I figured the next best thing was the JV program. That way I could still be a part of the Carolina basketball program."
Fans may have noticed some new faces during the Blue-White scrimmage at Late Night with Roy on Friday. Since the graduation of Tanner and fellow walk-ons Patrick Moody and Jack Wooten, some new JV players have been given a chance to play with the varsity squad. Thomas Thornton, a senior from Greensboro, James Gallagher, a senior from Atlanta, and Terrence Petree, a senior from Winston-Salem, were invited to scrimmage at Late Night and will be informed shortly whether or not they will continue to stay on the team.
The value of the program
Even for those with little hope of moving up, the JV program offers plenty of benefits.
"I came here from high school, not ready to give up basketball," said Crouch, "So this just gives you the opportunity to go to a great school like Carolina and still be able to play basketball. You also meet a lot of guys that have the same interests as you. Some of my best friends, even the guys I live with, I met through JV. So it's definitely a good thing they got going on here."
Senior Nick Thomas, a two-year JV alum, agrees, "I love the JV program. Not everybody gets scholarships to play Division I basketball so this gives guys a chance to play at the Dean Dome, and to continue playing after high school."
For those fortunate (and talented) enough to make the squad this season, practice begins today. If not one of the few chosen, players should remember the thought of the day for Friday's tryouts, "You cannot change the wind, you can only adjust your sails" and try again next year.
