Carmel Christian prepares for Jeff Davis HS (GA) at the Low Country Showcase
Head coach Joe Badgett lost four D1 scholarship players from last year's NCISAA 3A state championship team. Their record is now 15-3 for the season. Two of the three loses came down to the final seconds, while the last lost may have stung just a tad with the final scoring margin. That being said, coach Joe Badgett is the master teacher and will use the first half of the season as lessons for his team's run at another state championship. That run starts this Saturday at the Low Country Showcase in Charleston, South Carolina against Jeff Davis High School out of Georgia.
This year's team is once again predicated on balance, teamwork and buying in to the ultimate goal. For coach Joe Badgett, this game against an uncommon opponent is just what the doctor ordered. Carmel Christian has four players averaging in double digit scoring. 6'8 junior Ben Burnham has been the biggest surprise. Burnham is averaging a double double of 16.5 PPG and 10.0 RPG. 6'7 senior Myles Hunter, 6'5 senior Kenny Gwynn Jr. and 6'3 junior Justin Taylor average 13.5 PPG, 12 PPG, and 11.3 PPG respectively. In addition, coach Badgett gets scoring also 6'5 junior Glenn Bynum Jr. and 6'8 freshman Eliajah Gray averaging 7.9 PPG and 6.8 PG.
Coach Badgett's teams are well disciplined, fundamentally sound and play well within the team concept and once again will be in the conversation as a title contender. One thing is for certain, coach Badgett will have his team ready come tournament time.