The Harvey Red Raiders are poised to turn heads this winter as they return a senior-heavy roster loaded with experience, athleticism, and determination.
Head coach Eric Monty, now in his third season at the helm, has guided the Red Raiders to steady growth and believes this year’s group has the tools to make a big leap forward.
“Based on what I’ve seen so far, I am excited for the season,” Monty said. “We have a senior-laden roster that brings experience coupled with some younger guys ready to step in and make an impact.”
After finishing 10-13 overall last season, the Red Raiders return four starters and a deep group of varsity veterans ready to play an up-tempo, relentless brand of basketball.
“Our team is very athletic and fast, and we plan to play that way,” Monty said. “We also have depth that we did not have last year. Our depth will allow us to play a fast brand of basketball all game long.”
That speed and depth should pay dividends as Harvey looks to find more consistency in the competitive Chagrin Valley Conference.
“Consistency is a challenge for any team, and we’ve been working hard to build consistency and continuity,” Monty said.
Leading the way is senior guard Armani Hall, a proven scorer who averaged 13.4 points and 5 rebounds per game last season. Hall is just 61 points shy of 1,000 for his career and continues to set the tone for the Red Raiders on and off the floor.
“Armani has been one of the offensive leaders for this team his entire high school career,” Monty said. “With 1,000 career points on the horizon, we are excited to see what the season has in store.”
Fellow senior Deontae Ware, last year’s Team MVP, brings another dynamic presence to the lineup after averaging 13.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
“Tae brings a diverse skillset on the offensive end and has been a playmaker on the defensive side for us,” Monty said. “We expect more of the same from him this year.”
Chase Goines adds versatility in the frontcourt after posting 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a junior.
“Chase’s length and speed make him a tough defender that will be tasked with guarding our opponent’s best players,” Monty said.
In the backcourt, Neiman Booker returns for his second year as the starting point guard after averaging 5.1 points and 2.3 assists per game.
“Neiman is going into his second year as our starting point guard and we are looking forward to see him play a pivotal role in our offense,” Monty said.
Senior Dominick Snyder rounds out the starting lineup. A capable scorer and shooter, Snyder averaged 7.7 points per game last season and has expanded his offensive arsenal.
“Dom has worked hard to diversify his offensive bag and be more than just a perimeter shooter,” Monty said. “We are looking forward to seeing him score in a variety of ways.”
Harvey’s depth gives Monty plenty of lineup flexibility.
Seniors Eryck McClain, Deiondre Jackson, Markese Wise, and Jeremiah Jefferson all bring valuable experience and energy, while junior Antonio Hall, sophomore Xavier Rode, and freshman Zion Walker represent the future of the program.
“Eryck’s athleticism allows him to make plays on both ends of the floor,” Monty said. “He’s been working hard for more opportunities to make plays. Dre has been more of a defender than a scorer in years past, and we are excited to see him score a little more for us. Markese has made some nice plays on both ends of the floor so far in this young season. His dynamic playmaking should help us this year. Antonio’s ability to shoot the ball and his relentless effort on the defensive end should help us this season. Xavier played a few games at the varsity level last year as a freshman and showed some promise. We are looking forward to seeing his improvement this year. Zion has impressed the coaches in our early practices this season. His skill set and basketball IQ have allowed him to make some nice plays. JJ did not play a ton for us this year, but is one of the hardest workers we have. His commitment to the team is unmatched.”
With a strong mix of senior leadership and young talent, Monty believes his team can compete every night by focusing on the fundamentals that define winning basketball.
“We want to see improvement on the defensive end of the floor and want to win the rebounding battle every game,” he said. “If we do those things, we should be competitive in all of our games.”
