Shady Spring Boys Basketball Preparing to Write the Next Chapter

The summer workout period has become a valuable teaching tool for coaches across all sports.

For Shady Spring boys basketball head coach Ronnie Olson, the summer of 2025 could arguably be the most important period of his coaching career.

Following the graduation of three all-state players, Jack Williams, Jalon Bailey and Khi Olson, the Tigers will be turning the page and writing a new chapter for their program.

"You could say it's a whole new band, but we are playing the same music. I look out on the floor in our summer games and we have like three or four freshman on the floor," Olson said. "It's exciting because we have a young special group, but I also realize there are going to be some growing pains. I would rather be young and good, of course, than young and average. I can't compare them because they haven't done anything yet, but on paper, they can play."

Unless you have been under a rock for the past few years, you clearly understand that the bar for the Shady Spring program is extremely high.

Since 2021, Tiger town has collected two state championship titles, two runner-up finishes and a trip to the semifinals a year ago.

However, each of those runs involved a talented returning group that had a wealth of experience under its belt.

This year, that will not quite be the case.

"We are playing almost all ninth and tenth graders, along with a couple of upperclassmen in Rob Lynch, Brody Radford and Myles Clark," Olson said. "I was telling my coaches that I have never coached this much on every possession in any summer. I know at times they probably tune me out, but I am coaching everybody, every little possession. I can't really hold them accountable right now because they are just learning."

Radford has been a stalwart up top, while Eli Sexton and Gabe Short made solid contributions playing heavy minutes last year as freshman.

Clark and Lynch will be seeing quality varsity minutes basically for the first time this year.

The growth of the incoming freshman will be a key factor in regards to the team success come December.

"Khi, Jalon and Jackie didn't have to play immediately and they played for (assistant) coach Radford (at the middle school). These guys will have to play now," Olson said. "They know, but it is different learning on the high school level. I will have to be more patient, but it is also exciting because we are going to be really good the next three or four years."

While Williams, Bailey and Olson were highly talented, all three were great leaders as well. Shady Spring will need someone to fill that important role going forward.

"When one wasn't leading, the others were," Olson said about his three graduated seniors. "Now I just need one to step up. I look for Brody to fill that role. I am looking for Eli or Gabe to fill that role. I don't mind if they do it by committee, but I need those guys to do it. The guys need to hear different voices. I am big on leadership and big on guys placing their blueprint on the program."

Naturally, with all of those factors in play, Olson feels blessed to have the summer workout period to get a jump-start on the season.

"This summer has been great because I know we are hitting the ground running on some things that we need to work on. That is what we benefit from in the summer workouts," Olson explained. "In the past, I would have had to figure that stuff out come November. Now I know exactly where we can be and who can play where. It is just a matter of cleaning things up. We are definitely skilled."

Likely joining the varsity group this year will be first-team all-state baseball player Cutter Boggs who was a quality JV player last year as a freshman. Boggs could clearly be the X-factor in the Tigers' success.

"You throw him in the mix with this group and we have a ton of size. Our guards don't get stretched as much," Olson said. "Now we have bigs that can guard. Once we figure out the defensive schemes, we will have different ways that we can attack offenses."

Although Shady Spring will be "reloading" as they say, teams around the state will still have the Tigers in the cross hairs when the season tips off.

"We have felt that this summer. Teams have tried to hammer us. I have tried to mentally prepare them and mentally prepare myself," Olson said. "I have seen a lot of growth and I know it is going to be different come November once I get my guys structured in what we are doing. Teams will come at us and be gunning for us more than ever. We have had our run of things the last five or six years, but I don't feel like we are going anywhere."