Our ITG Next Alabama guest for this week’s 4 Questions with the Coach spotlight is Buckhorn boys basketball coach Patrick Harding. The Bucks are the defending AHSAA Class 6A boys state champion, and so far they are off to a great start, winning 13 of their first 16 games in the opening month of the 2023-24 season. Let’s learn more about the Bucks’ season outlook from Coach Harding.
Q. Coach, congrats on leading the Bucks to the school’s first state championship in over 25 years last season. Your Buckhorn basketball team is off to a great start. How much of that momentum has carried over to this season?
A. Thank you. To be honest we have stressed the need to look forward and not look back at what was accomplished last season. We are very proud of winning a championship, but many of those players have graduated and this is a new roster. This group has to create their own culture and accomplishments.
Q. You are fortunate to have one of the state’s top young stars leading the team in freshman Caleb Holt. You’ve been around basketball a long time. How does Caleb compare talent-wise with some of the other great players you have coached?
A. Caleb is the most talented kid that I have coached. He has exceptional physical gifts. He is a tremendous worker, and that bodes well for him as he progresses throughout his basketball career. He is quick to tell you he has areas of the game he’d like to improve.
Q. You obviously have a talented roster with this 2023-2024 Buckhorn basketball team, and everyone plays a role, whether it’s a key player like Caleb or guys coming off the bench. Is that type of makeup and chemistry what makes a championship-caliber team in your opinion?
A. I think the best teams are unique in that they have great buy-in in regards to their acceptance of their role on the team and their commitment to be the best in that role. Last year’s team was phenomenal in that regard.
Q. Talk about this season and the bullseye that your team has on its back as a defending state champion and one of Alabama’s really great teams.
A. I think we certainly get our opponents’ best efforts. There is no sneaking up on teams when you have good players and win a state championship the previous season. This season has been a great challenge in that regard. We are playing very good teams that are anxious to play well against us. I think we are getting better because of those facts.
