FORT BENNING, Ga., (Aug. 6, 2014) -- The Fort Benning Knights men's basketball team is back and is looking to fill 17 slots for the upcoming season with tryouts from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 9 and 16 at Smith Fitness Center.
Because this is his first year as head coach for Fort Benning, Howard Reed said he's coming in with a different mindset and philosophy.
"Just because you were on the team last year, it doesn't mean you will be on the team this year," he said. "It's definitely going to be a competition."
Reed and assistant coach Antonio Anthony said they are looking for players who have a good skill set.
"We are looking for skill sets that will match the (returning player's), so we can bring everybody together and make it gel (to) form a pretty decent team," Reed said.
Players who try out will go through drills consisting of phases that include warm-ups, conditioning, transitions ... layup combinations and defensive and offensive drills, he said.
"In the last phase we (will) try to bring it all together (with them going) five-on-five or four-on-four," Reed said. "(This) way they get some muscle memory in there too and make it a complete practice."
Reed said the biggest challenge for some players will be the large crowds they will have to play in front of - upwards of 3,000 in the stands.
"So, that's a challenge within itself," he said.
Reed said there are nearly 50 games scheduled for the season, which includes 28 confirmed collegiate games and the South East Military Athletic Conference Tournament.
A few of the states the team will travel to, he said, are Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina.
Reed said Fort Benning hasn't won a national championship yet, but this is the year.
The coaches have a larger than life outlook with the goal to get the team to the championship and make Fort Benning the premiere post for Army basketball.
"We are trying to bring a new brand of basketball to the Fort Benning community," Anthony said. "We plan on bringing a winning basketball team to this community."
The season starts in October.
For more information, call Reed at 404-998-9904.
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