Winds of change on the horizon for the Cyclones

Walter Wright was filled with pride as Eastern View’s boys basketball team honored its seniors during the last regular season home game. But as he scanned the Cyclones’ bench, concern crept into the back of his mind.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the progress this team made this year,” he said. “But next year is going to be a work in progress. We have to rebuild and try to fill in the gaps.”

What does a rookie coach at a first-year program that finished the season one game shy of a potential state-tournament berth have to worry about?

How about that the Cyclones will have to replace eight seniors next year — five of whom were starters?

“It’s going to be tremendously hard to replace those guys,” Wright said. “They (the seniors) were huge for us, and I don’t think we would have gone as far as we did without them.”

The Cyclones were led by senior guard Mo Safren, who proved to be just as dangerous driving to the basket as he was posting up beyond the three-point arch. The transfer from Highland finished the season averaging about 18 points a game.

“Mo brings discipline and he’s a leader,” Wright said. “I could go on and on about him. Any coach would want him on his team.”

Defensively, an athlete better known for breaking ankles on the football field led Eastern View. Senior Stevie Strother averaged four steals a game, and his ability to press ball handlers showed as he forced four of Caroline’s seven third-quarter turnovers in the Cyclones’ come-from-behind win in the first round of the regional tournament.

Strother also ran the point guard position for the Cyclones, where he averaged six points a game.

“Stevie was as important to our success this year as anybody,” Wright said. “He was big on defense, but he was also our general on offense.”

The Cyclones also got valuable contributions from seniors Andrew Hoffman, Blake Smith and Roger Davis — who averaged a double-double during the Battlefield District Tournament and joined Safren as a selection to the All-Tournament team.

Wright knows he has his work cut out for him, but if there’s one thing that eases the stress, it’s that sophomores Drayton Shanks and Bilial Williams not only started almost every game this season, but made their presence known on the court.

“I’m looking for them (Shanks and Williams) to show leadership next year, in practice, the locker room and in games,” Wright said.

Shanks — a 6-foot-4-inch forward — was consistently among the Cyclones’ top scorers and routinely rocked the house at Eastern View with his dunks.

“He (Shanks) is our slasher,” Wright said. “He’s quick to the basket and he can score easily.”

Shanks saw plenty of minutes this season, but despite his being named honorable mention All-District, Wright said he still has plenty of room to grow.

“He (Shanks) has a ton of work to do to be the player he can be,” the first-year coach at EVHS said. “He needs to work on his jump shot and get in the weight room, so he has some work to do over the summer.”

Wright noticed Williams while he was tearing up the competition on Culpeper’s freshman team last year. The coach knew right then that the 6-foot forward was destined for a spot on varsity.

“He (Williams) accepted the challenge and never looked back,” Wright said. “I think he has the ability to be an All-Conference player next year.”

Despite his height, Williams showed a remarkable propensity for battling in the paint and pulling down rebounds on offense and defense. He finished the season averaging six points and five rebounds a game.

“His ability to rebound and score inside gives him an advantage,” Wright said. “He knows how to box out and has a knack for the game.”

Wright called Walter Banks and Dominique Wormly up from the JV team to get them some experience late in the season, but he knows that’s just not enough if there’s any hope of a repeat performance of this year’s run to the regional tournament.

“The key is how hard you work over the summer,” Wright said. “I’m going to be on these guys, keeping them in the weight room and gym, but it’s up to them to put the work in.”