View YouTube videoEntering his 30th year as head coach at
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), nobody will accuse legendary Steve Smith of slowing down or padding the schedule in an effort to add to his gaudy career win total.
Smith's 2014-15 Warriors could play over 50 games in 10 different states, including trips way out west to California and Hawaii. There will be at least nine matchups against MaxPreps preseason Top 50 teams and likely more pending tournament results.
Things are off to a good start. The Warriors are already 10-0 and passed a significant test back on Nov. 4 with a win over Quality Education Academy – a program that spanked Oak Hill Academy early in the 2013-14 season.
Led by Florida State-bound senior
Dwayne Bacon, Oak Hill is well-equipped to handle the rigorous schedule. An athletic 6-foot-6 senior guard, Bacon is averaging 19.6 points and nearly four assists per outing thus far.
See the entire preseason national Top 25
Guard Dwayne Bacon
Photo by Randy Sartin
"He's as good as we have had here in a while, maybe since Brandon Jennings," Smith said.
Speaking of Jennings, younger brother
Terrence Phillips will play a leading role for the Warriors. The 5-10 senior point man is in his third year with the program and led OHA in assists as a junior.
Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) transfer
Joshua Reaves and Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.) transfer
Andrew Fleming provide additional firepower in the backcourt.
Smith super-sized his roster over the summer, giving him an impressive array of forwards and centers to work with.
"This is the deepest front line we have had in a long time," Smith said.
Senior Ohio State pledge
Daniel Giddens (6-10), juniors
Joe Hampton (6-7),
Rodney Miller (6-11) and
Khadim Sy (6-9) can all do damage in the paint.
View gallery of Oak Hill Academy preseason photo shootOak Hill Academy solidified its loaded roster even further this week with the addition of North Carolina sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander, who already holds multiple ACC offers.
Oak Hill Academy's last five years:2013-14 – 41-4, No. 4 final national ranking
2012-13 – 33-6, No. 8 final national ranking
2011-12 – 44-0, MaxPreps national champions
2010-11 – 29-4, No. 7 final national ranking
2009-10 – 29-4