HILLDALE HORNETS
BOYS
Coach: Hunter Harrison
23-24 Record: 14-11
The Hilldale Hornets return a solid core of experienced players that will form a heavy upperclassman squad this year with eight seniors and seven juniors giving coach Hunter Harrison reason to see good things for his squad in the upcoming season. Two of those seniors in particular will bolster the fortunes of the Hornets moving forward in Ty Wilson (6-3) who averaged nearly 13 points a game last year and Cole Leach (6-5) who averaged 13.2 points and 8.6 rebounds a game in 2023.
“Ty has the ability to take over a game with his jump shot as well as being a skilled ball handler. He will also draw the defensive assignment on the opponent’s’ best player in most cases. He’s a great leader, an even greater kid and leads the team the right way,” said Harrison. “Cole may be overlooked as a basketball player because of his baseball skills but he brings physicality to the paint that is hard to match. He is a heavy scoring threat inside and has a nice free throw jump shot. He is intimidating as a defender and has a good ability to block shots.”
Two other returning seniors that are expected to have great seasons are Cole Marshall (6-4) who put in five points and game and Mason Forhan (6-0) who averaged nearly 10 points a game for the Hornets. More senior leadership is expected from Kaden McLemore (5-11), Parker Roe (5-10). Parker Ireland (6-5), and Jason Drew (6-2). Leading the group of juniors that will push the older guys for playing time are Jordan Rodriguez (5-11) who had enough playing time last year to average 4.5 points a game, Dawson Fields (6-3), Brady Scott (5-8), Ryan McCormick (6-1), Gracen Hall (6-5), Mathew Ashwood (6-0) and Grant Brust (6-1).
If Wilson and Leach continue to improve their games and get some help from Forhan, Marshall and Rodriguez to mention a few, the Hornets have the size and experience to make themselves heard from in Class 4A this year.
