Excel Christian Academy returns to varsity boys basketball for 2018-19
Excel Christian Academy returns to varsity level boys basketball for the 2018-19 season under new head coach Shannon Boatfield. While the academic site for Excel has moved to a new location in Emerson, the basketball teams will continue to play home games at the former site on Old Mill Road in Cartersville.
The Eagles will open the season at home on Saturday, November 17 against Gordon Central and will compete in GHSA Region 6-A that includes Bowdon, Christian Heritage, Darlington, Gordon Lee, Mt. Zion-Carroll, North Cobb Christian, and Trion. Non-region opponents on the schedule include: Savannah's Bethesda Academy, Georgia School for the Deaf, Class 7A Lassiter, and Class 4A Lafayette. The Eagles will also participate in Adairsville's Ace Hardware Christmas Tournament December 27-29.
Excel Christian Academy Eagles
Head coach and coaching staff:
Shannon Boatfield (photo) with assistants Gary Boulier and Tyler Blackman
Returning starters:
Seniors Josiah Mosley and Evan Lee. Juniors Rayshawn Womack and Brendan Quillin. Sophomore Kalil Holley.
Coach Boatfield’s analysis: Mosley is a quick, defensive-minded point guard who is our floor general. Great hands, tough to stay in front of him; gets to the rim with ease. Lee is our best deep threat and is our tallest player at 6-5. Plays like a European big man with finesse on the wing. Lee is best for us when at the high post position. We enjoy the ball in his hands. Good things happen.
Womack can be an explosive scorer that can play inside and outside. He is a great athlete and leaper with long wingspan.
Quillin is our best pure shooter even though he’s one of our biggest players. He has a very high IQ and is fundamentally sound. What he lacks in athleticism he overcomes with playing smart.
Expected top contributors and Boatfield’s analysis:
Robby Poston (Jr.) — hard-nosed, tough, undersized post player at 6-2. He is a high-energy player with double-double potential this year.
Jacob Day (Jr.) — long, shooting guard with good size on the wing. He is a newer player developing three-point consistency.
Remainder of the varsity roster:
Jake Murray (Jr.) — shooting guard, undersized, spot up shooter.
Trippe Anderson (So.) — energy guy off the bench, spot minutes, ability to knock down the open shot.
Noah Welch (So.) — strong interior presence with good size, only lacking experience.
Freshmen Tim Terry and Jun Hyuk Choi
Boatfield on expectations and goals for this year’s team:
It is really hard to say. We step back into varsity competition after a 12-win JV season last year. Playing in the ultra-competitive Region 6 in Private A ball is tough. I believe the pre-season top 10 features four teams from our region, so we’ve got our work cut out for us.
I expect us to battle, play sound defense, be patient with the ball, and push it when the opportunity comes. We will surprise some people this year. It’s a new day for Excel basketball.
There’s an excitement and buzz about our program, both on campus and in the community. Our vision is to Engage the Heart, Elevate the Spirit, and Empower the Body of every coach and player in our program. If it doesn’t accomplish one of those three things, we don’t want to do it.
I am excited to add some quality depth to our coaching bench in bringing over Tyler Blackman. He’s an Excel grad who loves this place and is really sharp with the Xs and Os of the game. Our middle school program has added some strong depth too with some familiar faces in new places. If I’m the smartest guy in the room, we are in trouble, so I wanted to bring some of the best in Bartow County to our program to help us lead this program to what it can be.
