At Greenbrier East, men’s basketball is a big crowd draw. A lot of fans come out to support the team, win, lose, or draw.

Junior Sam Hawver (#10) is a fan of the team’s chemistry. “Everyone can joke around and have a good time,” he said.

When asked about the coaching staff, Hawver said, “There is  a big coaching staff, so there is more variety this year.” Hawver has played basketball since he was in the first grade. He took a year off last year, but the time off doesn’t seem to have affected him as he is now, for some games, a starter for the team. 

Having a good bond between players and coaches can make or break a team. Sophomores Braylen Godfrey (#23) and Darius Burns (#2) are appreciative of how their coaches help them. “They will be there for you on and off the court,” Burns said.

Both young men mentioned their coach Jamel. “I feel like Jamel has had more of a role this year on the team,” Godfrey said.

Every player has a point where they fell in love with basketball. 

Senior Donavin Penn (#0) has been playing basketball since a year before he started Pre-K. When asked what started his love for the sport, Penn said: “I had a lot of people who pushed me to want to be better,” and went on to list people like his older brother, his cousins, and former Spartan stars Adam Seams and Goose Gabbert. Penn has played all his four years at East and said he finally feels like he has found his role on the team and uses that role to help his teammates. Although he is sad for his senior season to end, “I’m going to enjoy every second and make the best out of it,” he said. 

All in all, the men’s basketball team is very important to East. Win, lose, or draw, the games bring our community together.