Hoagland ready for challenge at VI

Scott Hoagland’s basketball coaching career has included several stops. His latest job has landed him in Bristol.

Hoagland began his coaching career as a student assistant for the University of Virginia’s College at Wise’s women’s basketball team and later spent time at Fort Chiswell High School and Oak Hill Academy.

In fact, he spent the last six years at Oak Hill in Mouth of Wilson, Va. – a national prep powerhouse. Hoagland was the junior varsity coach and guided the school’s Red Team.

He also helped out with head coach Steve Smith and the Gold Team and got to see such current NBA stars as Carmelo Anthony and Josh Smith pass through the school.

However, Hoagland decided to try his hand at the college game and took the reigns of the VI program this summer after Thad Johnson resigned.

"It was the opportunity to step up," Hoagland said. "It was a good situation for me, and I was able to take a program that’s been down a little bit. When I was at Wise, I remember VI was the talk of the conference with players like Julius Gallishaw and Kendall Dancy.

"They were perennial contenders in the [Appalachian Athletic Conference], and that’s what was appealing. I wanted to build something out of nothing and prove I could get it done, to myself and see what the college setting was all about. It’s been a great experience so far."

Hoagland won his first three games on the VI bench, and the team is on pace to shatter last season’s win total. The Cobras will do it with some new faces.

Just five players return from last season, but it is a quality nucleus. Junior guard Courtney White is the most notable returnee and the Knoxville native averaged 10.7 points per contest last season.

Juan Ornelas (6-foot-4, sr.), Jamaal Clarke (5-8, jr.), DeShon Moore (5-8, jr.) and Kevin Champagne (6-5, jr.) are also back. Ornelas is the team’s most potent 3-point shooter, while Clarke and Moore will both spend time at point guard. Champagne, a former standout at Daniel Boone, will be one of the team’s top rebounders.

A talented group of newcomers will join those returnees. Six-foot-seven junior Akeem Price has already proven himself as a force inside for the Cobras.

Bruno Daliu (6-7, sr.), Jeremy Anderson (6-7, jr.) and Jamie Butler (6-3, jr.) have transferred into the VI program. Daliu played at Oak Hill Academy and Lees-McRae College, while Butler was a prep standout at Grayson County High School and spent his first two collegiate seasons at Catawba (N.C.) College.

Derek Anderson Jr. is the top freshman for the Cobras. He is the son of former University of Kentucky star Derek Anderson, who currently plays for the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.

"He’s our prized recruit," Hoagland said. "He’s probably our best on the ball defender. It’s taken him a little while to get acclimated to the college game, but that’s what you would expect from a freshman."

Hoagland says his concerns include a lack of size at the point guard position and that his squad can’t become complacent with its solid start.

"We’ve also got to get better on the defensive end," Hoagland said. "We’re scoring the basketball fine, and putting points on the board isn’t a problem. But you have to be able to stop people."

So far, the reviews for the Cobras and Hoagland have been positive.

"He makes sure we work hard, and he also gets along with everybody," Ornelas said. "He makes sure we all stay together and do what we have to do."