“The key is not the ‘will to win’… everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important” – Bob Knight
The will to prepare to win. Under the hood, how does that play out on the HS hoops scene? Do we allow hoopers to use their God-given talent and capitalize off their innate ability to get it done? Or do we – as coaches – prepare our team for battle with the onus on us? Overlooking the pieces we may have on our roster and digging deeper for success?
Campbell Spartans (GA) head coach Randy McClure has chosen to assemble his squad with a mindset of running solid fundamental basketball plays – and boy is it a thing of beauty. Don’t get me wrong, players ultimately decide the outcome of a game with their skill-sets on display, but coach McClure has a bag that shines bright like a diamond.
We had the pleasure of watching him in action during the 2022 Carrollton Xmas Showcase. To be honest, it was some of the best basketball we’ve seen since migrating to GA from California several years ago. The Spartans went 2-0 during the showcase. Defeating Rockdale County (57-48) on day 1 and a come from behind overtime victory over Baldwin (64-60 OT) on day two – while missing their starting PG.
The Spartans are 9-2 this season. Teams that have beaten them (Peachtree Ridge 11/29 & Lovejoy 11/12) can truly give themselves a pat on the back. The Spartans are a tough out and will only get better under the tutelage of Coach McClure and his coaching staff. If you are looking for basketball to be played as a work of art, then look no further. Head to GoFan and pick up your tickets to see the Spartans in action this season. Coaches looking to gain valuable insight on how to incorporate sets into your play, pull up. We appreciate you coach for your will to prepare your kids to play the game of basketball – and not just leaning on their athletic capabilities. God Bless.