Fab Four

Sophomore Quartet Leading the Next Generation of Wolverine Hoop Stars

By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer

There are inevitable growing pains anytime a sports team experiences a youth movement.

However, for the Woodruff boys’ basketball team, most of the discomfort is inflicted by the Wolverines’ young and dynamic core upon their opponents.

After graduating over 90 percent of their offensive production from last season’s dynamic squad, the Wolverines are being rejuvenated by a quartet of young sophomores who are giving fans a glimpse at the next great era of Woodruff basketball.

For Happy Lea, Nick McConnell, Kory Scott, and Rashad Reed, their development as players and the Wolverines’ success is part of the process.

“It’s entertaining, and it’s fun,” said Lea of being a leader of this year’s team as a young player. “Last year, we had a senior-heavy team, and so I didn’t get to play as much. But that was a good experience because it got me ready and got me stronger and mentally tough.”

Lea and McConnell, the latter being the son of Woodruff head coach Bryan McConnell, were both role players on last season’s squad as freshman. However, this year, they are the two leading scorers on a team with three seniors on the roster.

McConnell, a sharp-shooter and three-point specialist, has joined Lea in the starting lineup. Both players have averaged over 14 points per game through Woodruff’s first three contests of the campaign at the Rippy’s Tip-off Classic at Union County High School.

“I was behind three other great guards last year (on the depth chart), and they definitely helped me grow as a player,” said McConnell. “Then playing AAU and fall ball has helped prepare me for a bigger role this season.”

Woodruff’s other two sophomore players are Scott and Reid. Scott was called up last season after the conclusion of the junior varsity campaign but played sparingly as the Wolverines headed towards the play-offs. Reid played his entire freshman season on the JV team. The Wolverines’ three games before the Thanksgiving holiday were his first as a varsity player.

Scott, a dynamic guard, says he looks up to his other teammates as he develops into a dependable presence in Woodruff’s backcourt.

“These guys have taught me that it takes work and that you just can’t show up and be great,” he said. “You have to work for your success.”

Reid, a star defensive tackle for the Wolverines’ football team, is still developing as an offensive player but is already a force on the defensive end with his size, power, and ability to defend in the post and grab rebounds.

“Everything on varsity is just a faster pace,” said Reid. “It’s a lot more physical.”

Early in the 2021-22 season, all four players have made significant impacts. Woodruff dropped their first two games of the Rippy’s tournament to perennial SCISA powerhouse Spartanburg Day and a talented Chesnee team, but then put it all together by dismantling Newberry, 70-53, on the final day of the tournament.

Looking at the stat sheet, everyone contributed, and the “Fab Four” were right in the thick of things.

Lea poured in career-highs of 24 points and 19 rebounds against Newberry. McConnell knocked down 11 three-pointers over three games while scoring in double digits in all of them. Scott and Reid were lockdown defenders, with Scott also seeing time at point guard where he showed his ability to drive and slash to the basket.

“I don’t even have to be tall,” stated Reid. “All I have to do is box you out and play physical.”
McConnell said he could already tell the difference in his game in terms of being comfortable in his abilities on the court.

“I am definitely more comfortable with the speed of the game,” he said. “I’m always working on getting my defensive game and quickness better.”

Above all, with three of the four having played together since childhood, the on-court communication between these four talented 10th graders have been impeccable. It is an attribute that serves them well and lends to the belief that Woodruff basketball will be competitive well into the future.

“Me, Nick, and Happy have played with each other since the fifth grade,” Scott said. “We have a great chemistry, and then adding Rashad last year, we have a great brotherhood.”

Woodruff also has a talented freshman, Hunter West, already making contributions at the varsity level and soon to join the program are a talented group of eighth graders on the middle school team who seem primed for varsity roles early on as well.

Everyone, from players to coaches, are excited about what the future holds for the Wolverines.
Added Lea, “We are going to be good for a long time.”