MEET THE TEAM
For whatever reason, winning at Valley Center has been a difficult proposition in the last decade. The Hornets haven't made the state tournament since 2002 and most years haven't even sniffed a chance to return.The man in charge of turning things around is John Wetig, who will begin his second year after Valley Center went 3-18 last season. It's going to take time. There's no easy fix for when a program gets in a rut like this. It will probably take 4 to 6 years for Wetig's work to be seen, as he has implemented youth basketball camps with hopes of making basketball a priority again in Valley Center.
There's no doubt he has raised the excitement level. Wetig said he had over 50 kids in try-outs and can feel the buzz around the team entering the season. The Hornets have three returning starters and a change in offense has them thinking they can make strides this season in getting back to respectable status.
Wetig has set his players loose on offense, switching to a more free-flowing motion offense that puts the decision-making into the hands of the players on the court. There aren't many restrictions and the offense is set up to allow the players to play in a natural way to try and create offense. How well that works with the pieces they have remains to be seen, but Valley Center is high on the change.
The Hornets don't have much size this season, so they will try to mask that by playing a higher-tempo game. Last season they only scored over 50 points three times. That should change radically, although the team will have to tighten up its defense a bit more for the new routine to be successful.
Excitement is finally restored in Valley Center and that alone is an accomplishment for Wetig. But he wants more and so do the Hornets. The division is wide open after the top 3 teams and Valley Center will be gunning for that fourth spot. If the new change in offense really does work, then expect to see the Hornets taking huge strides in the second year of Wetig's system.
MEET THE CAST
#05 | BRADEN TORMEY | POINT | 5'8" | SENIOR
The returning point guard from last year should thrive under the new free-flowing style the Hornets want to play. He'll score a little more this season, but his No. 1 priority this year will be to make sure Valley Center is scoring more.
#01 | ZACH BROWN | WING | 5'11' | JUNIOR
Should benefit the most from the change in offensive system, Brown is a returning starter and second-team all-league player. Led the team in points last season and should see that total increase as he will get more opportunities.
#02 | GARRETT REEVES | POST | 5'11" | SENIOR
Under-sized at just 5-11, Reeves is a scrapper that will battle for loose balls and rebounds underneath. A glue guy that doesn't expect to score and will play his heart out on the defensive end.
#44 | BRADEN JANZEN | POST | 6'2" | JUNIOR
One of the tallest players on the roster, Janzen will be crucial to the team in the post. He'll have to rebound more in his junior season as he sees his role and minutes increase due to lack of depth down low.
#03 | JACOB BRITTAIN | WING | 5'8" | JUNIOR
Another tiny guard for Valley Center that will see more playing time this season. He was a valuable scorer off the bench last season and is one of the team's better 3-point shooters.
#23 | CALEB CLAUSSEN | WING | 6'2" | SOPHOMORE
A talented up-and-comer on the wing, Claussen should see minutes this season at the 3 and 4 spot. He saw some minutes last year as a freshman, but will be counted upon more this season in the rotation.
#11 | JASON BARBOUR | POINT | 5'11" | SOPHOMORE
A backup point guard that has a lot of potential and will be the understudy to Tormey this season. But in the new up-and-down style, he should still play a factor in this season.
The returning point guard from last year should thrive under the new free-flowing style the Hornets want to play. He'll score a little more this season, but his No. 1 priority this year will be to make sure Valley Center is scoring more.
#01 | ZACH BROWN | WING | 5'11' | JUNIOR
Should benefit the most from the change in offensive system, Brown is a returning starter and second-team all-league player. Led the team in points last season and should see that total increase as he will get more opportunities.
#02 | GARRETT REEVES | POST | 5'11" | SENIOR
Under-sized at just 5-11, Reeves is a scrapper that will battle for loose balls and rebounds underneath. A glue guy that doesn't expect to score and will play his heart out on the defensive end.
#44 | BRADEN JANZEN | POST | 6'2" | JUNIOR
One of the tallest players on the roster, Janzen will be crucial to the team in the post. He'll have to rebound more in his junior season as he sees his role and minutes increase due to lack of depth down low.
#03 | JACOB BRITTAIN | WING | 5'8" | JUNIOR
Another tiny guard for Valley Center that will see more playing time this season. He was a valuable scorer off the bench last season and is one of the team's better 3-point shooters.
#23 | CALEB CLAUSSEN | WING | 6'2" | SOPHOMORE
A talented up-and-comer on the wing, Claussen should see minutes this season at the 3 and 4 spot. He saw some minutes last year as a freshman, but will be counted upon more this season in the rotation.
#11 | JASON BARBOUR | POINT | 5'11" | SOPHOMORE
A backup point guard that has a lot of potential and will be the understudy to Tormey this season. But in the new up-and-down style, he should still play a factor in this season.
FROM COACH WETIG
"We have to start from the very bottom in turning this thing around. We have to develop youth programs. We have to start working with younger kids and get them playing the game all year-round. And then with our high school kids, we had to get them playing a lot of ball in the summer. We have to make them believe they can win again and I think we're getting there. It's going to take a lot of hard work and dedication, but I think these kids can do it."
THE PREDICTION
There's no question the new offensive system will do wonders for Valley Center. Wetig appears to have a grasp on what needs to happen to turn things around and the process has already begun. But to expect much this season, only the second under Wetig, is asking a lot. Valley Center might be able to surprise a few and pull off an upset here and there, but I still think they are a few years away from seriously contending. I think Valley Center increases its win total from last season and takes another step in the right direction under Wetig.
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