It’s the same story this year in regards to Tift County basketball. The Blue Devils are once again loaded. They didn’t lose much last year. They’re back and, after last year’s stunning and disappointing first-round playoff loss to Newton, they’re hungrier than ever.
“We only lost two games last year,” says Tift County head coach Eric Holland. “Unfortunately, one of those games was in the first round of the playoffs. In our mind, we’re 0-1. And we’re ready to pick up where we left off last year.”
On a team full of elite-level players, one young man stands out above the rest. Junior forward PJ Horne, a 6’6”, 220-pound three-year starter, is the kind of player every coach wants. He’s big, strong, fast, and versatile; Horne can play any position on the court and play it well. This year, he will have to step up and lead the Blue Devils – and that’s just fine by him.
“We want to come back stronger than ever,” Horne says. “A lot of people look up to us, and we want to get better. We came up short last year, but our goal remains the same. After that playoff loss, it hurt. We were devastated to work so hard and have it end so early. We were shocked. Our fans were shocked. It just didn’t feel right.”
So what did the Blue Devils do? Less than a month after losing to Newton, they were back in the gym, working even harder.
“It’s been a very long offseason,” Horne says.
A year ago, Horne averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, and six blocks per game. His teammates call him “the total package” – he plays equally well at the three or the four and can dominate on both ends of the floor.
“We’re expecting him to do everything. He dominates on both offense and defense. He should be among the leaders in every statistical category,” says Coach Holland.
Horne attributes his success to two qualities: being coachable and never settling for second-best.
“I always give everything I have when I step on the court,” he says. “I also listen to my coaches. I listen to what they tell me then I use those lessons on the court. I think that’s what helped me develop my game.”
As his game has developed, so have his expectations. It’s not enough just to make the varsity; he had to start. It’s not enough to get in the playoffs; his teams have to win the region. And it’s not enough to get in the state playoffs; Horne and his teammates expect to win the state championship each year. Which is why last year’s abrupt exit from the postseason was so difficult.
“It feels great to be expected to win state,” he says. “We like to say that there are three seasons. The regular season is the first season. The playoffs are the second season. Then winning the championship is the third season. If you win all three seasons, you’ve got it. And that’s what we want to do – win all three seasons.”
Horne’s work ethic, talent, and academics (he carries a 3.2 GPA) have attracted the attention of college coaches throughout the country – from Southeastern Conference schools like Georgia and Florida to Ivy League institutions – who would like to have him on their rosters in the future. It’s a little unusual to think about for Horne – he’s only a 16-year-old junior with two more years of high school basketball left to play. While his immediate goal remains to lead the Blue Devils to a state title, he knows where he’d like to end up one day.
“In a few years, I’d like to be in the NBA,” he says. “If I’m not there, I want to be somewhere being successful. I’m not ever going to give up. I’ll always keep my head up.”
Sidebar:
Coming up through the Tift County system, PJ Horne played football in addition to basketball. After his freshman year, however, he put away his cleats, shoulder pads, and helmet.
“I wanted to focus on one sport,” he says. “I didn’t want to have to balance two sports. I wanted to put everything into basketball.”
Does he miss the opportunity to dominate on the gridiron like he does on the floor?
“A little,” he says. “I hear about it every day. It’s been tempting. It was fun. I liked football.”
Player Spotlight/South Georgia/December 2015
PJ Horne
Tift County High School
Tifton, Georgia
Robert Preston Jr.
Photography by Micki K Photography and Marque Milla Reese
Horne leads yet another talented Blue Devils squad
