MACON, Ga. — As Georgia high schools transition from football to basketball season, some teams have had a tough time preparing for their early games because some of their players were competing for a state title on the gridiron.
At Northeast High School, all of their preseason practices have come down to one player.
"We've never been in this situation before," said head boy's basketball coach William Gordon.
While Northeast's football team was starting their 2024 playoff run after another successful regular season, the preparation for the raiders' basketball season came down to one player: Justyn Taylor.
The point guard said it's always been slim pickings at the start of the season, but this year is different.
"Last year, we had four people but now it's just me," Taylor said.
Taylor was the only name on the varsity roster at the start of the season after some of his teammates moved schools. He and Gordon were doing one-on-one sessions in practice.
"They've been very intense. Justyn knows that he's going to have to be the anchor when the football kids come back," Gordon said. "He's going to be the one they depend on to be in shape and kind of lead them so he's really been pushing himself and I've been really happy with it."
Taylor said he's grateful for those practices and has already improved but wasn't always on board.
"'I'm finna quit. I'm finna quit or I'm finna transfer,' but I had to think about it like if I do leave what's it going to do for me, cause everybody else got what they want and I got what I want because I wanted my own team - so now that I got it, I don't want to leave it, so I'mma just stay," Taylor said.
Gordon said they went recruiting trying to get some people on the court.
"Right outside the gym hallway we still have open applications. We got a big sheet, we make announcements, and we just walk through the school just try to encourage kids you know that may be interested to come play," Gordon explained.
Over time, freshman started to trickle in and Taylor said he finally got to work on some other skills.
"I'm a better leader than I thought. Didn't think I was going to be. I thought it was going to be hard but it's really not - just got to be yourself," Taylor said. "They look up to me. They're freshman, so I look at them like my little brothers. I look out for them, they look out for me."
Gordon said they're training harder now that they're working with some numbers.
"We're getting after it. If that means I have to get out and strap it up I get out and strap it up," Gordon said. "Now I might have to take some ibuprofen when I get home at night."
Taylor said the offseason work has him excited for his senior year. He's just got one goal heading into the season.
"I just want to win," Taylor said. "I want it to be my best year, want it to be their best year too, so I just want all of us to just win as a team."
Due to their lack of depth, Northeast had to postponed their first couple of games. Gordon said eventually they'll have to suit up whoever they have.
"We have to play the region game - we don't have no choice," Gordon said. "So for sure, our first game will be December 3rd."