Media Day Information and Coach Talk with Darren Douglas and Jeff Williams

Dear basketball community,

Before you hear from Darren Douglas and Jeff Williams, please read about our coming high school basketball media day, which we hope will be packed with every HS boys and girls coach, and key players appointed by their coaches.

Date, time, and place for the expanded Augusta region’s media day:

• Sunday, November 5 from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the Old Columbia Middle School
• Message me or Email cookchad08@gmail.com for more details or with questions and RSVPs.
• Schools from Richmond, Columbia, Aiken, Burke, McDuffie, Screven, Jefferson, Baldwin and every other county whose basketball affects ours are invited.
• I ask all my coaching friends, and all players, parents, and hoops fans to spread the word that we want to see every high school boys and girls coach and their appointed player representatives from all the schools. Wear school athletic gear. I will be doing interviews the whole time. Darren has invited the entire media. Now please help me make sure the HS hoops coaches know they are their selected assistants and players are invited! 
• Share, share, share!

Coach Talk: Darren Douglas (Aquinas)

In his first season as the head coach, Darren Douglas led Aquinas to a 26-2 record, a region championship, and a class A state playoff quarterfinal finish last season. 26 represented a 15 game increase in the win column. Coach Douglas talked to me this week about his program's focus in the off season. Darren said he is teaching his players how to "work," and that his ultimate goal is teaching them how a strong work ethic can help them become "better fathers, better husbands, and better people."

Coach Talk: Jeff Williams (Lakeside)

Lakeside senior Brad Hilley works participated in last Wednesday's skill work with coach Jeff Williams.

In his first season in charge, head coach Jeff Williams led Lakeside to a 21-5 season, an undefeated regular season region record, and a region tournament championship. The Panthers won 10 more games than the prior season and achieved many milestones not reached before in the school's three decades of existence. Coach Williams talked to me last week about his team's focus during the off season, what they are doing to improve, and which players are getting the most out of their time in the gym.