Hornets Seek Identity in Post-Scottie Era
"Just amazing," said a fan from his school.
"He really didn't have a weakness," said one of his former teammates.
"That dude was sick!" commented somebody from a different school - in a different county.
When a high school basketball player like Scottie Reynolds comes around - which isn't often - it's hard to put into words exactly how good they are. In Reynolds' case, you had to see it to believe it.
You will have to travel to Villanova University in Philadelphia, where he is the starting point guard as a true freshman, now to do so. Last winter, Reynolds had one of the top prep seasons in the history of the state, averaging 26.3 points per game and completing a career in which he scored 2,306 points, the second-most ever by a Group AAA player and the seventh-most all-time in the state.
In doing so, the McDonald's All-American left behind a tall task for this year's Hornets boys basketball squad, which entered the season seeking its own identity after Herndon won its first-ever Northern Region championship and its first state final appearance since 1951. Coming close to that performance will not come easily. This year, unlike the past couple, the Hornets will be underdogs against some regional competition. They have lost their security blanket.
Not to say Herndon didn't return a strong, talented team for the 2006-07 campaign. Five seniors, including senior forward Danny Jones and senior guard Matt Seeger, return to help fill the big shoes that Reynolds has vacated.
"Our goal this year is to take everyone by surprise and take the region by storm," said Jones, who joins Seeger as the lone starters back from last year.
"We want to win more championship games - districts and regionals," added Seeger.
The Reynolds Era has raised the bar at a school with an already rich tradition, and the program looks to be in good hands with the likes of the 6-foot-6-inch Jones - who averaged 20 points a game over the Hornets' first two games before this edition went to press - along with Seeger, C.J. Glenn and Richard Gore. Jones already has been recruited by numerous Division I schools, while Seeger, a multi-talented athlete, carries his football mentality onto the court.
Glen, meanwhile, gained experience in backing up Reynolds at point guard for the Hornets, whole Jones said Gore is "the most important person on our roster because he knows himself well on the court. He can change an entire game in just one play."
Another key component for Herndon to put together another deep postseason run will be 6-foot-2 senior forward Isaac Anane, a returning lettermen who is the team's top returning rebounder.
The chemistry the Hornets developed in going 26-5 last season impressed their counterparts on campus. Jessica Troutman, a senior and a four-year member of the girls team at Herndon, said the team excelled not only because they had Reynolds leading the way, but also due to the fact they "really knew how to work together and take advantage of each other's strengths on the court. I expect they will do really well again this year. They have a strong, dedicated group of seniors."
Said Seeger: "We've all been playing together for about four years and we're all friends. Our chemistry is good, but there's still room for improvement."
