Ardrey Kell Knights boys basketball: Kings of the Castle Crazies
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mike Craft has coached the Ardrey Kell basketball team for 15 years, but this past season was unlike any other. At the beginning of the year, he and his players were left wondering if they鈥檇 even have a season.
鈥淲e wanted a season, but we also wanted everyone to be safe,鈥� Craft said.
In the end, they did get to play, but it didn鈥檛 look the same. One of the most noticeable differences was the size of the crowd cheering them on, which was limited to 25 people. Usually, the student section, dubbed 鈥渢he Castle Crazies,鈥� adds an electricity to game nights, but these games were noticeably quieter.
鈥淓ach game felt more like a scrimmage, but the kids created their own energy,鈥� Craft said.
He was impressed with his team鈥檚 resilience and positive attitude despite the challenges.
鈥淲e wore masks on the court the whole season, and I didn鈥檛 hear a single complaint,鈥� Craft said. “They just said 鈥榯ell us what we have to do to play.鈥欌��
Play they did. For the second time in Ardrey Kell history, and the first time for this particular group, the basketball team made it all the way to the state championship game.
鈥淲e played a great game and wound up a little short, but I鈥檓 so proud of what they accomplished, and how they did it with such class and dignity,鈥� Craft said.
We recently caught up with Peyton Gerald, Knoah Carver, and Evan Smith, three of the team鈥檚 star players. Not only are they dominating forces on the court, they are all-around upstanding young men, and all boast GPAs of 3.0 and higher. Here, they open up about themselves and give us a firsthand account of what it鈥檚 like to be a part of this dynamic team.
What does 鈥渢eam鈥� mean to you?
Peyton Gerald: When I think team, I think 鈥渇amily.鈥� My AK team is my second family. We鈥檙e there for each other, encouraging one another but also holding one another accountable. I鈥檓 a captain, so it was a responsibility to lead by example.
Knoah Carver: Family. With the team we have, we鈥檙e really close. Coach Craft does a lot to help us build that team atmosphere. We have team meals, spend a lot of time bonding outside of games and practice鈥� We want to give one another our best. It makes you want to play your hardest.
Evan Smith: Team to me is everything. We go by this saying, 鈥淭CC;鈥� Trust, Care, Commitment. We鈥檙e all close鈥攃lose enough to tell each other when we need to step it up. It鈥檚 a tight bond here.
What鈥檚 your favorite team memory?
Gerald: Winning against North Meck in the Regional Championship game. They鈥檙e one of the best teams in the nation.
Carver: The West Charlotte game at Vance my sophomore year. It was a crazy game, packed to the walls. There were lines of people outside waiting to get in! It was cool playing in that atmosphere.
Smith: Definitely the North Meck game in the regional championship. The game came down to the wire, and we pulled it out in the end. The crowd was going wild. We went back to the locker room and went ballistic!
What鈥檚 your pre-game ritual?
Gerald: It鈥檚 kind of simple, but I always eat two packs of fruit snacks real quick before I go out. It鈥檚 gotta be the Mott鈥檚 fruit snacks.
Carver: I pray before every game by myself. And I always make sure I鈥檓 wearing two pairs of socks! One pair has always been the NCU East/West socks. That鈥檚 been my goal to get to that game, and this year I鈥檒l get to play in it.
Smith: We usually shoot in the aux gym, then I鈥檒l go and sit down in the locker room and pray and listen to music. I keep my head down and spend a few minutes to myself, not talking to anyone. It鈥檚 my way of locking in.
Who鈥檚 your favorite athlete? Favorite team?
Gerald: Jayson Tatum. And I like the Hawks because I was born in Atlanta, and my dad also likes them too.
Carver: Jrue Holiday or Bradley Beal. My favorite team is probably the Nets; I like Kyrie.
Smith: I like Sharife Cooper鈥攈e goes to Auburn. I like his game, so I watch him all the time. For team, I like the Grizzlies. I鈥檝e loved watching them in the NBA playoffs.
What do you like doing outside of basketball?
Gerald: I鈥檓 usually just playing video games with friends. Call of Duty is my favorite right now.
Carver: This summer I鈥檓 looking for a mechanical engineering internship, I鈥檓 looking forward to getting some hands-on experience in that field.
Smith: If I鈥檓 not playing basketball, I鈥檓 usually chilling with friends, listening to music. I鈥檓 planning on making money by training kids this summer. And I can rap a little bit.
What are your plans after high school?
Gerald: June 9th I鈥檓 headed to Catawba College.
Carver: I鈥檒l repeat senior year at Brewster Academy, where I鈥檒l work on getting stronger and faster, then I鈥檒l go on to play in college. [He鈥檚 gotten several inquiries already and is projected to be a D1 athlete]
Smith: I鈥檝e got one more year of high school, but I definitely want to be playing basketball in college. I鈥檝e gotten an offer from the Naval Academy.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.