Early in a practice on December 1, the Flint Southwestern boys’ basketball team was in the midst of a grueling set of down-and-back sprints to work on conditioning in preparation for their season-opener. But aside from hoping the speed and stamina translate to the court, what was happening in between sprints also has coach Demarkus Jackson hopeful.
Junior Ty’shon Mcknuckle finished his sprint and noticed two teammates who had gone down on a knee trying to catch their breath.
“Push yourself, stand up, there ain’t no air down there,” Mcknuckle said, as he helped his teammates to their feet and encouraged them to finish strong.
Jackson is hoping that type of leadership helps guide a Southwestern team that is coming off of a difficult season, winning just two games. Mcknuckle and junior Jamari Ross are entering their third seasons on varsity, and are among a group of returning players that could provide some leadership and stability for the program.
“I’m excited about the experience, I have some returning players that I think have a lot of potential this year,” Jackson said. “Jamari and Ty’shon have been with me since they were freshmen, so I have high expectations of them.”
Mcknuckle said being a leader is important to him, and he wants to create a healthy environment in the gym for his teammates.
“I take that very seriously, because if nobody on the team has somebody to look up to, I know there’s not always a lot of people who are putting that positive mindset into kids, making sure they stay focused, and stuff like that,” Mcknuckle said. “I do my best to make it feel like they (teammates) have hospitality in the gym and just make sure that it feels safe here where they can perform.”
Mcknuckle and Ross also give Southwestern some height and versatility. Ross had a simple answer when asked what he thinks the team’s strength will be this season.
“Speed,” Ross said, describing what he’s seen from the team in practice so far.
If that translates from practice to games, it will fit well with how Jackson hopes the team plays this season. He’s focused on being an aggressive defensive team while also pushing the pace on offense.
“Our defense is gonna be our strength,” Jackson said. “Our guards are pretty big this year, and we’re going to go as far as the defense takes us. We’re gonna play very aggressive, that’s the plan.”
One change that could benefit the team this season is officially having a conference after joining the Genesee Area Conference. Jackson said the program has previously been independent, making it harder to fill out their schedule over the years. They’ve regularly played several GAC schools, but this year, they’ll have a full conference schedule.
“Going into this year, we will have more of a steady competition,” he said. “Instead of having to go and keep finding games, finding other teams to play.”
Those other games have sometimes resulted in Southwestern getting matched up against bigger schools that are tougher to compete against. In the GAC, they’ll face schools that are closer to their enrollment size, which should provide more competitive matchups.
The team opens its season at home at 7 p.m. on December 4 in a non-conference game against St. Clair Shores South Lake. That team went 13-10 last season and lost its season-opener this season 65-62 in overtime to Sterling Heights. South Lake beat Southwestern last season in the Beecher Holiday Classic.
For the players, they’re just ready to get back on the court and hoping to show improvement.
“I’m just looking forward to playing basketball again and winning more games this year,” Ross said.
Mcknuckle said he hopes that the increased work and energy he’s seen in practice translates to on-court success. He’s motivated to be a part of a turnaround story with Southwestern basketball.
“I’m mostly excited about just us picking up the energy,” Mcknuckle said. “And our underdog story, for real. Because the last couple years, we haven’t been giving it our all. This year, we actually got a chance. We got players who want it. I’m just really looking forward to a better season.”
Jackson is also motivated by trying to restore Flint Southwestern’s basketball reputation. He’s entering his sixth year leading the program. He’s also organized summer youth leagues in an effort to get more young people playing in the city again.
“I’m not really basing it (success) off of just wins and losses, but I predict we’re gonna have more wins than we had the last two seasons (five total) put together,” Jackson said. “The potential in the kids is really what brings me back (each season). I know they have a lot of potential around here in the Flint area and it’s definitely time to bring out that potential. With everything that I have going on at summer league and everything like that, I’m slowly, surely building back up this Flint program. It’s going to be back to the Flint that we all know soon, and that’s what we’re all about right now.”
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