Farmington

North Farmington boys basketball optimistic heading into season

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes North Farmington sophomore Jeron Rogers rises to the hoop during a recent practice. Rogers is one of three returning starters. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes North Farmington sophomore Jeron Rogers rises to the hoop during a recent practice. Rogers is one of three returning starters.

With nearly half a team lacking varsity experience, North Farmington boys basketball coach Todd Negoshian is happy to throw his team into the fire.

The coach has scheduled a gauntlet to open the year, many in tournament settings.

“There’s a lot of challenges for us, and all on the road,” Negoshian said. “By the time our league starts in January, I need to know where we’re at as a team, and we need to be ready. I’ve never been one to believe that you’re going to be successful in the postseason by playing easy non-league games. We need to be challenged from the start.”

The Raiders return three starters in senior guards Caleb Hogans and Sterling Sharp, and sophomore post Jeron Rogers from a team that finished 14-8 overall and second place in the Oakland Activities Association Red Division.

There are six total players with varsity experience out of the 11 on the roster. More than one third of the roster is made up of underclassmen.

Hogans and Sharp said they’re looking forward to what lies ahead.

“I like playing on the road against good teams in front of big crowds and competing with the best,” Sharp said.

As usual, the Raiders are going to play an up-tempo style with relentless pressure on the defensive end. Though they’re inexperienced, Negoshian believes he’ll get a lot of different contributors.

“Give the kids credit — they’ve come in every day and worked hard,” he said. “We have a chance by the end of the year to be nine or 10 guys deep, and that’ll be very good for us. I thought last year, we really struggled by a depth standpoint, and our guys were dead by the end of the year. It’s something we talked about as a staff and as a team all summer. Hopefully, it’ll pay off for us in the end.”

Another point stressed during the offseason is leadership.

“It has to come from your seniors, and you’re only as good as your seniors. If we can get good leadership from them, I’ll be very happy,” Negoshian said. “I’m not saying we’ll win a lot of games, but we’ll be successful with how hard we play and how we represent everything that we do.”

Hogans and Sharp said they, along with the rest of the seniors, will fill that hole and carry on the tradition.

“We’ve had some good leaders at this school, so we know how to be good leaders from them,” Hogans said.

“We’re ready to step up and play that role,” Sharp said.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.