Salisbury’s head boys basketball coach Albert Perkins recently spoke about the loss of star player Braylon Taylor, the Catawba recruit who dazzled in the East-West All-Star Game with 28 points and earned MVP honors, and who had led the Hornets to a 4A state championship victory last March with 29 points.
Summer Showcases and Camps
During the offseason, the Hornets traveled to a series of showcases, including the NC Live event, Phenom camps, and sessions at Catawba College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, using the exposure to fine‑tune their chemistry.
Among the players getting extra attention are senior Blake Smith, the brother of Myles Smith, who is expected to make a significant impact, and fellow seniors Darius Greene and Jayden Jones, who built on their contributions from the previous season.
A notable storyline involves sophomore Royce Perkins, the coach’s son, who burst onto the scene with a clutch half‑court shot in the regional final that propelled the Hornets to the championship game. He earned all‑county and all‑conference honors as a freshman and will now shoulder most of the point‑guard duties.
Looking Ahead to the New Season
Perkins expressed confidence that the blend of experienced seniors and emerging talent will allow the team to move forward without Taylor, citing the program’s resilience and depth. With the summer work already underway, the Hornets are poised to enter the upcoming campaign with a renewed identity, aiming to translate their showcase performances into on‑court success.