“It’s a culture, a community thing,” Van Winkle said. “The expectation, to be quite frank, isn’t real high. That’s something I’m trying to change with every aspect of the games, of the practices, of the feeder system.
“It’s a town of 60,000 people. If you can set it up right, this is going to be the best job in Southwest Ohio. But it’s got to be set up.
“We want to win the league, and I think we’re capable of doing that. It’s a little bit top-heavy with Lakota East, but after that, I think everybody is in there for a dogfight. The league is as balanced as it’s been in a while.”
Van Winkle is building from the ground up with the Hamilton Blue Stars. There are teams for players in grades 1-12.
“That’s the only way you’re going to have good continuity,” Van Winkle said. “You sit here as a varsity coach and say you’re worried about third- and fourth-grade teams. Most people probably aren’t, but I am. When your valleys are low, I think that’s what you need to do.”
HHS finished 8-15 last season under Tim Robinson, who resigned after going 37-94 in six years at the helm.
“I know things haven’t been great win/loss-wise, but I haven’t spent one second looking at that,” Van Winkle said. “The only thing I look back on statistically is where some of our guys were shooting-wise last year and trying to work on that.”
Big Blue return three of their top five scorers in 6-foot-3 senior forward Jamil Daniels (12.6), who only played 10 games last season, and junior guards A’Shon Riggins (11.0) and Ryan Robinson (8.3).
Van Winkle said HHS will be more of a half-court squad this season.
“If you watched Lakota West the last five years, that’s what we’re going to do,” he said. “We’re going to take real high-percentage shots. We’re going to try to be very, very, very unselfish on offense. Last year we were one of the best defensive teams in the GMC, so we’re trying to bring that meanness and discipline here.
“They did press a lot more here last year than we will do. I’m worried about protecting the basket right now, and we’ll work our way out once we get that. What we’re really trying to do is limit easy baskets.”
Riggins and Robinson will be the primary ball handlers for Hamilton. Daniels and senior forward Adam Robbins, who averaged 3.3 points per game last season, are also among Big Blue’s top four players.
Van Winkle said sophomore guard Eric Jackson, senior guard Davonte Burrell (a transfer from La Salle), junior forward Brooks Robinson and sophomore forward Vince Sanford are the leading candidates to break into the starting five.
“Adam Robbins has probably had the most surprising preseason,” said Van Winkle, noting that Robbins and Ryan Robinson are the team’s best long-range shooters. “Ryan Robinson has probably put in more time than anybody in the offseason. He’s not just a spot-up shooter anymore.
“Jamil is one of the best rebounding forwards I’ve seen in terms of going and getting the ball. Not necessarily getting tough and boxing people out, but just going and getting the ball. We need him to do that.”
Man-to-man will be Hamilton’s defensive staple, though Van Winkle does plan to utilize the 1-1-3 zone he used during his days at Ross.
Size will be an issue for Big Blue. Sophomore forward Hunter Hamilton is the tallest player on the roster at 6-4.
“Like I tell the guys every day, it’s not your height, it’s your heart,” Van Winkle said.
John Thomas, Mark Hiegl, Justin Beck and Kevin Miller are the varsity assistants. Jimi Sizemore and Jake Turner are coaching the junior varsity.
HHS opens the season this weekend, traveling to Xenia on Friday and hosting La Salle on Saturday.
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