Central High boys basketball coach Percy Sledge desperately wants to see his young Chargers develop into the sum of their parts this season.
“We’re not short on talent,” Sledge told Texas Scorecard. “In the district, I think we can be a top-tier team and compete with just about anybody. We just have to find the right chemistry.”
With his 15-man roster comprised of 13 juniors and sophomores, Sledge said he knows that’s a process that will require him and his coaches to be as masterful as they’ve been in his 13 seasons at Central.
“We’re building,” he said. “We just have to learn to be more disciplined and do more of the little things that make the difference.”
Three-year starter Latrell Jossell leads the way for the Chargers, averaging 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over the team’s 2-3 start. Still just a junior, Jossell was previously tabbed newcomer of the year as a freshman and offensive player of the year in the district last season.
“He shoots the three well, gets to the rim; he can do it all,” Sledge said of his 6-foot star, who opened the season netting a career-high 35 points against Centennial.
“Latrell’s a Division 1 talent,” he added. “He already has over 1,000 points in his career for us and now he’s started to work more on his point guard skills.”
Sledge notes Jossell also leads the team in steals at 3.5 per game, attesting to his overall game.
“Right now, he’s outplaying a lot of guys that are getting a lot more attention in this area of Texas,” Sledge said.
Junior forward Kylil Anderson mans the inside for Central, averaging 14 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Sledge calls sophomore guard Edgar Nyanje the team’s “grit guy,” while 6-foot-3 inch, 305-pound junior Justin Garrett provides muscle.
“Nyanje is our attack dog,” Sledge added. “He picked up six charges in one game and Garrett had 17 points in our opener. I would say those four guys are our nucleus and we’re still trying to figure out some other things.”
Through it all, Sledge is sure of at least one thing.
“We’ve got some interesting pieces and parts,” he said. “We’re learning now and getting everything in gear for the long haul.”
