ROGERS -- Rogers Heritage is coming off its best boys basketball season in the school's short history.
But War Eagles coach Tom Olsen believes this year's group could be better. A number of players who saw significant playing time return and have showed marked improvement over a year ago. However, a big reason for Olsen's optimism came when Lexus Hobbs contacted him during the last week of the school year, telling him he had moved to Rogers, enrolled at Heritage and wanted to play basketball.
Profile
Lexus Hobbs
School: Rogers Heritage
Height: 5-11
Weight: 170
Class: Junior
Notable: Averaging 12 points, four rebounds and 2 assists for the War Eagles. … Named to the all-tournament teams at the Arvest Hoopfest and the US Bank Holiday Classic in Rolla, Mo. … Moved to Rogers in late May from Stuttgart and playing his first season at Heritage.
Olsen and Hobbs agreed it's been an adjustment for the 5-foot-11 athletic guard, who started a year ago as a sophomore at Stuttgart. He struggled at times, but has been able to utilize his quickness and athleticism to average 12 points and four rebounds per game. Hobbs ranks second on the team in both categories.
"I was a big name in 4A, but in the 7A-West I hear all these big names," Hobbs said. "I'm just trying to make a name for myself here."
Hobbs has been forced to work at a slower pace than he played at Stuttgart and learn the intricacies of Heritage's match-up zone defense.
"I think for Lexus it's obviously an adjustment in style of play," Olsen said. "I think that's reality and that's fair."
Hobbs agreed.
"It's way more detailed in everything here," Hobbs said. "Up there, it was pretty much just go play ball. Here, it's organized and structured."
But Hobbs' athleticism and leaping ability are two qualities he brings that could help push Heritage to greater heights.
"There's no question we've never had an athlete like Lexus here," said Olsen, who has been the War Eagles coach since the school opened six year ago.
Hobbs acknowledged it hasn't always been smooth sailing. He managed just two points and went 0-for-12 from the floor in Heritage's second game of the season against Russellville.
But he's been reached double figures in nine of 10 games since he sat out against Shiloh Christian because of a disciplinary measure.
He scored nine against Columbia (Mo.) Hickman in the US Bank Holiday Classic in Rolla, Mo.
Olsen said Hobbs had a strong outing, making the all-tournament team, at Rolla in a star-studded field that included Indiana signee Juwan Morgan of Waynesville, Mo., and Arkansas signee Jimmy Whitt of Hickman.
"Lexus has adjusted well and on a really good track," Olsen said. "To be recognized there at Rolla was pretty special. He's playing more under control, understanding our system and I just think he will only get better and better and better."
The War Eagles (9-4) open 7A-West Conference play at Springdale High on Friday and Hobbs said he and the War Eagles are ready.
Olsen said the adjustment hasn't just been for Hobbs either.
"We've been putting our heads together as a coaching staff to keep guys out of his way," Olsen said. "Some of it is his doing, knowing when it's a good time or bad time to go to the basket. But we're working more to keep guys from being in front of him who are wearing the same uniform."
Bentonville boys basketball coach Jason McMahan, who has scouted Heritage a couple of times, said Hobbs definitely has his attention and not just for his athleticism.
"I think first and foremost, for them, he brings a desire to galvanize his team to do the things they need to do to win," McMahan said.
But Hobbs' quickness will help Heritage on both offense and defense, McMahan said.
Sports on 01/09/2015