Pride Off-Season

As March comes to a close, the Pride are beginning to put the pieces together for another state championship run in 2018-2019.  “You don’t win a championship the day of the game, you win it in the off-season,” Coach Eason explains. “Good teams start preparing in the pre-season. Great teams start in the summer.  Championship teams start now.”

Coach Eason outlined an off-season that began with end of the season meetings, centered around what he felt the players needed to improve on.  “Where i’m from, kids can’t afford personal training and camps, and if they’re not good enough to play on a sponsored club team, there isn’t much off-season individual stuff for them to do.” Coach Eason explained.  “I take pride in creating a program that is suited for the development of the players.  In the past 15 years, I’ve met with  basketball coaches and strength coaches from high major D1 colleges to small junior colleges, to create a comprehensive package to develop my guys.”

The staff expects this to be a critical off-season and has raised the bar as far as expectations. “Guys get to March, and start thinking it’s all about club.  Club is important for exposure, but not for development,” Coach Eason tells us. “I’m expecting a pound gained per week, and you don’t get that from playing a bunch of meaningless game and giving a half-hearted effort in the weight room.  It takes hard work, and that hard work should pay off in high school, club, and most importantly in their individual workouts.”  “Some kids think there’s a magic pill or coach that’s going to get them there.  It takes blood, sweat and tears, and if you’re not willing to spill any or only spill them when pushed, then you’re not going to get much from this game.”

When it’s all said and done, Coach Eason expects a different end to next season. “The team fought hard this season, but some guys didn’t truly understand or buy in to the off-season.  This season, we’ll be returning a group that understands the importance of working now, so they will see the pay off in February.”

Here’s a look at the Pride’s off-season schedule…

2018 Off-Season Schedule
April
·        Study Hall: 3:00pm-4:00pm
·        Workouts: 4:00pm-5:00pm
·        Personal Training: 5:00pm-6:00pm
May
·        Study Hall: 3:00pm-4:00pm
·        Workouts: 4:00pm-5:00pm
·        Personal Training: 5:00pm-6:00pm
June
·        Study Hall – 7am-9am (For those taking online summer classes)
·        Workouts
–         Varsity/JV (Weights: 9am/Practice: 10am-12:00pm)
–         Freshmen (Skills and Drills – 8:00am-9:30am)
·        Varsity Summer Schedule
–         GCU Team Camp (5/31-6/2)
–         Central Summer League (6/6,6/13,6/20,6/25)
–         Powerhouse Hoops Tournament (6/8-6/9)
–         Summer Prime Time (6/15-6/16)
–         ASU Team Camp (6/22-6/24)
–         ACU Team Camp (6/29-6/30)
·        JV Summer Schedule
–         Central Summer League (6/6,6/13,6/20,6/25)
–         Summer Shootout (6/8-6/9
–         Central Jamboree (6/15-6/17)