HOOPS PREVIEW: Norcross looks to repeat with new faces

After defeating Milton 59-55 in last season’s state championship game, Norcross comes into this season with a new-look squad. The Blue Devils lost forwards E. Victor Nickerson, Josiah Moore and Alonzo Nelson-Odada, who will be playing Division I ball at Charlotte, Nebraska and Richmond respectively. With the loss of the three big men and senior guard Chris Bolden, who transferred to North Gwinnett over the summer and recently committed to Georgia Tech, Norcross will seek great play from starters Derrick Herbert and Jason Croom and sixth man Nate Sims.

“I feel really confident with the players that we have and will be able to continue the success that we have had over the past couple of years,” said head coach Jesse McMillan.

Due in part to the losses and personnel returning, the Blue Devils will change their game pace this season by having a more guard-oriented and faster-paced team. McMillan sees the team running a more full court, up-tempo pace differing from the half court team of last season.

“We are guard-oriented and feel really good about the guard positions and wing positions so we are going to use some more of them than we have used in the past but we are a much quicker and a little more skilled for our positions than we have been in the past,” remarked McMillan.

In order to counter the loss of some great rebounders and big men, Norcross hopes junior Harold Givens can fill the void. The Northside-Columbus transfer currently is rated as one of the top players from ESPNU’s Georgia prospects for the class of 2013. McMillan hopes the 6-foot-7 athlete can help keep the forward position strong by replacing Nickerson. He also can play guard and forward positions.

In order to help mature the young team composed of seven underclassmen, McMillan chooses to play a difficult schedule early in the season to help players become accustomed to elite competition. Some teams on the Blue Devils’ non-region schedule include teams from New York, North Carolina and Ohio. He chooses to do this so his players see multiple styles of play.