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Plymouth’s LaGroon named top boys’ hoops coach
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
PLYMOUTH — Plymouth’s first-year coach Darius LaGroon has a lot to be proud of this season. After getting off to a late start because most of his roster was pursuing a state title in football, the new coach was able to mesh with his players in time to go 19-3, win the Albemarle Conference and take home a sectional championship.
All that success has led to LaGroon being named the Washington Daily News Coach of the Year, but what LaGroon is most proud of this year has nothing to do with basketball.
LaGroon said what makes him smile the most is the fact that after June, most of his seniors will still be going to class, just not at Plymouth High School.
“My first year here has been great,” LaGroon said. “Not just because of the wins; being 19-3 is great, and I am very humbled by that ... But the thing I am most proud of is that most of my seniors are going to go off and get an education.”
Whether it is to go play football, basketball or neither, LaGroon said he didn’t care as long as his players were continuing to better themselves.
“William (Hunt) is graduating and he is signed to go play football at Fayetteville State,” LaGroon said. “Angelo (Sharpless) is signed (at Elizabeth City State University) for basketball and football. Seven other seniors, if you count Jason Kournegay are leaving for college. I have a few of those kids going to my alma matter Voorhees College (South Carolina). That’s the thing I am most proud of, just to get these kids out of High School and into college to further their education.”
Aside from Hunt and Sharpless, the Vikings’ Marcus Jones, Damien Davis and Akeem Webb are set to start the second chapter of their schooling come September.
Jones, Davis and Webb will each be attending Voorhees College, and will attempt to make the basketball team as a walk-on. Kournegay will be attending a prep school in South Carolina, and will presumably attend college upon graduation. Mitchell is still fielding offers, but is said to be leaning towards Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida to play football.
LaGroon said the transition to Plymouth was made easier by the fact that he was coaching a close knit group.
“I think the kids had a great time this year, I had a great time this year,” LaGroon said. “These guys have a bond with each other, It’s not just we are done with high school we will keep in contact. These guys are a tight bunch that really love each other.”
As much as LaGroon has helped his players out on the court this season, his players have done the same for him.
Plymouth’s football season ended on Dec. 8, the Vikings’ first basketball game was on Dec. 16.
Left with little time to prepare, the team’s willingness to help each other on the court helped speed up the learning process. The team’s cohesiveness also helped them put behind a sour 20006-07 season.
LaGroon said he was surprised at how fast his players adapted.
“Yes, I was very surprised (by how fast they came together on the court,” LaGroon said. “I heard a lot of people talk about things that went on last year, I don’t know how much of it is true, but you have to understand there was turmoil here.”
To LaGroon’s credit he had no interest in venturing into the past, his only concern was the future. LaGroon offered everybody who came out for the team a clean slate.
With a new foundation in place, the Vikings went on to have one of their most successful season in recent history.
LaGroon said what he will remember most this season was when his team topped North Edgecombe 101-96 to win the sectional championship.
“The best moment of the year was winning sectionals,” LaGroon said. “It didn’t become my best moment until after the game, I really didn’t know exactly (how big a win it was). I am from South Carolina, the playoff system is a little different, but here it is set up like the NCAA bracket.”
LaGroon said what stands out in his mind about that game is the way his players stayed calm under pressure.
“Our kids were like ‘Coach we got it,’” LaGroon said. “When the game got tight they didn’t crack. They were just like ‘Coach we got it, we’re good.’ ... That night was a great moment for me.”
With so much success in just his first season, it’s hard not to believe there won’t be plenty more great moments in store for LaGroon and the Vikings.
All that success has led to LaGroon being named the Washington Daily News Coach of the Year, but what LaGroon is most proud of this year has nothing to do with basketball.
LaGroon said what makes him smile the most is the fact that after June, most of his seniors will still be going to class, just not at Plymouth High School.
“My first year here has been great,” LaGroon said. “Not just because of the wins; being 19-3 is great, and I am very humbled by that ... But the thing I am most proud of is that most of my seniors are going to go off and get an education.”
Whether it is to go play football, basketball or neither, LaGroon said he didn’t care as long as his players were continuing to better themselves.
“William (Hunt) is graduating and he is signed to go play football at Fayetteville State,” LaGroon said. “Angelo (Sharpless) is signed (at Elizabeth City State University) for basketball and football. Seven other seniors, if you count Jason Kournegay are leaving for college. I have a few of those kids going to my alma matter Voorhees College (South Carolina). That’s the thing I am most proud of, just to get these kids out of High School and into college to further their education.”
Aside from Hunt and Sharpless, the Vikings’ Marcus Jones, Damien Davis and Akeem Webb are set to start the second chapter of their schooling come September.
Jones, Davis and Webb will each be attending Voorhees College, and will attempt to make the basketball team as a walk-on. Kournegay will be attending a prep school in South Carolina, and will presumably attend college upon graduation. Mitchell is still fielding offers, but is said to be leaning towards Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida to play football.
LaGroon said the transition to Plymouth was made easier by the fact that he was coaching a close knit group.
“I think the kids had a great time this year, I had a great time this year,” LaGroon said. “These guys have a bond with each other, It’s not just we are done with high school we will keep in contact. These guys are a tight bunch that really love each other.”
As much as LaGroon has helped his players out on the court this season, his players have done the same for him.
Plymouth’s football season ended on Dec. 8, the Vikings’ first basketball game was on Dec. 16.
Left with little time to prepare, the team’s willingness to help each other on the court helped speed up the learning process. The team’s cohesiveness also helped them put behind a sour 20006-07 season.
LaGroon said he was surprised at how fast his players adapted.
“Yes, I was very surprised (by how fast they came together on the court,” LaGroon said. “I heard a lot of people talk about things that went on last year, I don’t know how much of it is true, but you have to understand there was turmoil here.”
To LaGroon’s credit he had no interest in venturing into the past, his only concern was the future. LaGroon offered everybody who came out for the team a clean slate.
With a new foundation in place, the Vikings went on to have one of their most successful season in recent history.
LaGroon said what he will remember most this season was when his team topped North Edgecombe 101-96 to win the sectional championship.
“The best moment of the year was winning sectionals,” LaGroon said. “It didn’t become my best moment until after the game, I really didn’t know exactly (how big a win it was). I am from South Carolina, the playoff system is a little different, but here it is set up like the NCAA bracket.”
LaGroon said what stands out in his mind about that game is the way his players stayed calm under pressure.
“Our kids were like ‘Coach we got it,’” LaGroon said. “When the game got tight they didn’t crack. They were just like ‘Coach we got it, we’re good.’ ... That night was a great moment for me.”
With so much success in just his first season, it’s hard not to believe there won’t be plenty more great moments in store for LaGroon and the Vikings.
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