The grind never stops for Verrado Basketball. While basketball season officially begins in November, pre-season practice has just started. Practices kicked off last week and will continue through October. Over the summer, the teams also competed in about 30–50 games between the Freshman, JV, and Varsity, starting in late May and running through the end of June. With so many returning players from both summer ball and last season, tryouts for pre-season practice were not required.
Practices aren’t just once in a while—they’re a serious commitment. All grades hit the court three times a week, and the schedule switches up depending on when the gym is open. Sometimes it’s right after school from 2:30 to 4:00, when players barely have time to grab a snack before lacing up. Other times, it’s the late shift from 5:00 to 7:30, which can feel like forever if you’ve already had a long day of classes. Each session starts with about ten minutes of stretching, but once that’s over, it’s all business. Usually, the freshmen and JV teams work together, running drills and building chemistry, while varsity often splits off for their own intense sessions. The best part? Almost every practice ends with a full-on scrimmage, where players finally get to test themselves in a game-like situation—and bragging rights are definitely on the line.
But the grind doesn’t stop there. A lot of players also hoop for club teams outside of school, which can cause some serious scheduling chaos. With overlapping practices, long drives, and nonstop games, athletes have to make tough choices. Most eventually realize they can’t do it all, so they drop club ball to put their full focus on school basketball. It’s a big sacrifice, but for those who want to make varsity or dream about taking their game to the next level, it’s all part of proving their dedication.
The Viper Times spoke with Coach Rogers about his goals for the season and how the team is preparing during the offseason. “During the off-season, we are in the weight room three times a week, working on our bodies so we can get bigger, faster, and stronger,” he explained. He added, “Our main goal is to become regional champs. We don’t have a region state champion banner for basketball, so we’re definitely looking to make a run at the state championships.”
With all the work being put in, the hope is that this will be the year Verrado brings home that long-awaited banner! We’ll definitely be cheering them on!!
