L-R: #5 AMARI BOATNER GUARD, #13 LILLY BLANCHARD GUARD, #33 AISYA POWELL FORWARD, #3 MALIKHI GLOVER POINT GUARD
The 2024-25 season was good for both Wolves’ programs, as the girls made the playoffs once again, and the boys punched their ticket to the Sweet 16. The similarities don’t stop there for the upcoming season as a ton of production from those squads donned their caps and gowns last May. The challenge to sustain and build on last year’s success lies in how both teams replace that production with the current rosters.
Jared Hughes is in the third year of his 2nd stint as head coach for the Lady Wolves and during both tenures, state tournament berths have been the norm. With a trio of seniors departing from last year’s roster, it will be up to senior guard Lilly Blanchard(guard) and forward Aisya Powell to fill those leadership roles for the 25-26 season.
“We will certainly operate a little differently this season, and we are still trying to put that puzzle together,” says Hughes. “I can tell you this though, I have some outstanding leaders and overall these girls give such a great effort in how they prepare that I consider myself lucky to be their coach. We have talent and great leadership, so that can take us a long way.”
The Lady Wolves have no shortage of talent, with a host of younger players ready to take on bigger roles this season. You can expect a team that defends the whole floor on defense and an offense that will get their shots up and crash the boards. That recipe has been successful for Hughes teams in the past, and there is no reason to think that trend won’t continue. Especially with the senior leaders on the roster.
“Leading young people is leading young people,” says Hughes. “Once they know they’re cared for, everything else falls into place.”
On the boys side, Head Coach Dawson Wehunt enters his second year at the helm, and is looking to build off the success of last year’s team. It will look different, but he is looking to replace some of the graduated production with a holistic approach.
“We really feel like we have 10-12 guys that can go out and play quality minutes,” says Wehunt. “We have 4 solid seniors that have all started games and a host of underclassmen that are ready to contribute. That kind of depth should allow us to defend the entire court for four quarters and hopefully that leads to a lot of easy baskets in transition.”
Seniors Malikha Glover and Amari Boatner will be looked upon to be leaders of a team that will rely on pressure and ball movement to find quality shots on offense. With goals of an even deeper playoff run and future aspirations of state championships, this team can continue to raise the standard around Rome Wolves basketball.
“I learned last year that I really didn’t know anything,” says Wehunt. So much of this job is about relationships and entering year two, I feel like we are only strengthening the relationships that are going to help get this program where we want it to be.”
One thing is clear, both Wolves programs are in good hands as they continue their ascent to the top of the Georgia High School food chain.
