The Carl Junction boys basketball team is looking to improve upon last year’s campaign as the Bulldogs bring back three starters and several athletes with varsity experience in 2023.
The Bulldogs are coming off an 8-18 campaign that saw CJ finish with a 1-9 record in the Central Ozark Conference. With the recent conference realignment announcement, this will be the Bulldogs final season in the COC before entering the Ozark Mountain Conference in 2024-25.
“I am very excited for this season,” said Carl Junction coach Justin Pock. “We have a great group of kids who are looking to win every time they step foot on the floor. They are a tough and hard-nosed group who expect to win. They have a great summer and a great offseason.
“This team is out to prove something and I think we have a full team. We can score in multiple positions and can run the floor. I think this team is looking to change the narrative and open some eyes to Carl Junction basketball.”
Carl Junction will be led by returning starters — sophomore G Cooper Vediz (third-team COC), senior PG Jett Hocut and junior PF Wyatt McAfee.
“(Cooper) had a great season as a freshman and is looking for more this year,” Pock said. “He can really score the basketball and is an all-around athletic player. (Jett) can really shoot the ball and we believe he will have a strong senior year as a really smooth, calm player. (Wyatt) is a work horse for us. He is a strong kid who does all of the dirty work for us and has a chance to be a big leader for us.”
Also bringing back varsity experience for Carl Junction is sophomore PG Brody Pant, senior F Quin Kennedy and sophomore G/F Deacon Endicott.
New to the varsity squad for Carl Junction this year is senior F Aidan Beachner, junior G Jett Mills, junior G Shea Perkins, junior F Austin Swarens and sophomore G Craig Hayes.
“I think if we can stay healthy and stay together as a team we can have a great year,” Pock said. “I think we will compete and play hard every night. We have multiple scores on this team and a team that shares the ball. … This group is unselfish and hungry to win. I think we have a squad that can beat you in multiple ways. They are competitors and are ready to battle.”
Carl Junction opens the season in the 63rd Annual Forsyth Tournament on Nov. 27.
