WINTER HAVEN – For Polk State Basketball, the 2022-23 sophomore class is unlike any other in program history.

This season, Polk State trotted out 11 sophomores. Only one of those, however, is a returning player.

"This is a very unique group," Head Coach Brandon Giles said. "I really looked at this group as one of my most mature and experienced groups."

Come Wednesday night against Daytona State College, the sophomores will be celebrated for Sophomore Night. It will be the Eagles' next-to-last home game of the season.

"What I'll remember the most from my time at Polk State is creating lifelong memories and experiences with my brothers and the time I put in, the belief I have in myself, and that (Assistant) Coach (Josh) Jack(son) and Coach Giles had in me," said guard and team captain George Pridgett. "Polk State changed me a lot. It taught me that no matter what happens in your life story to keep pushing forward; there's no limit to what you can accomplish."

Pridgett is among the state's leaders in scoring and 3-point percentage. Pridgett's 19.4 points per game average is good for fifth in the state and his 41.1% mark from deep ranks sixth. A transfer from Jacksonville University, Pridgett, who also leads the team in steals, was among six players to come to Polk State this season from an NCAA Division I school.

"I think I'll definitely remember the coaching staff," said center AJ Hamrick, a Charleston Southern University transfer and Polk State's leader in field goal percentage and blocked shots. "It's more of a family here, more love, more of a big brother situation than a coach-player. I feel like Polk has showed me who I truly am – down to the bare bones – what kind of student I am, what kind of player I am, what kind of person I am, and what kind of passion I have for education and basketball."

Kenny Burns (Kennesaw State), Quentin Hodge (USC-Upstate), Jordan Smalls (Rider), and Rabby Kamona (Eastern Kentucky) also spent their freshman seasons at Division I schools. The season did not go as planned for all the sophomores, but there was personal growth along the way.

"The school gave me a chance to really find myself as a person and as a basketball player," Kamona reflected. "I don't really think of my coaches as coaches, but more like my big brothers. They taught me to work hard and that nothing in life is given."

At 6-foot-9, Kamona has brought size off the bench. Burns' season was cut short by a knee injury while Hodge missed the season for non-basketball reasons. A big guard, Smalls provided a nice spark early on in Central Conference play, averaging better than 12 points per game over the first three conference contests.

"Polk State definitely had an impact on me," Smalls noted. "I'd say it changed me for the better. There's not one thing I can point to. There were a lot of things that had a domino effect as to how I view life and how I go about things. I think one of the things I enjoy about the team is being pushed to be myself every day."

The six Division I transfers weren't the only players to come to Polk State with college basketball experience. Forward Ashton Howard, center Naadhir Wood, and guards Rod Jones and Alex Vertus played junior college basketball in other states before deciding to spend their sophomore years at Polk State.

"What I'll remember most about Polk is the brotherhood we created, working hard every day," Vertus said as he reflected on his time at Polk State. "The program has changed me as a person, player, and student. It taught me through hard times in life to keep pushing. As a student, I was able to stay on top of my grades. It molded me as a man. Overall, it was a great experience."
 

Vertus has helped stretch the floor, ranking second on the team with 23 made 3-pointers. Averaging 4.1 per game, Jones is the leading assist man and ranks second on the team in points (12.8) and steals (1.1) per game. In addition to averaging nearly seven points, Howard is the team's top rebounder, averaging 6.9 per game. Wood brought size and offense down low before leaving the team late in the season.

"What I'll think about is overcoming adversity and learning how to humble myself," Jones said as he thought about his time at Polk State. "Polk has changed me as a player. I had to overcome some injuries, overcome the losses, and come to practice to just stay focused. My coaches pushed me every day. They just kept believing in me."

Guard Jaelin Simpson was the lone returning player of the Eagles this past season. A versatile guard and solid on-the-ball defender, Simpson has scored in double figures four times this season for Polk State, including a career-high 15 points in games against Chipola College and Indian River State College – both of which have been nationally ranked.

"Being here has taught me a lot of life skills not related to basketball. It taught me how to discipline myself and just be a better man," Simpson said. "When I think about Coach Giles and Coach Jack, I don't really think about them as basketball coaches. I think of them more as life coaches. They really taught me more about life and being a man off the court."

For Polk State, the season has not gone as most hoped. The Eagles will enter Wednesday's contest with a record of 9-16. Half of those losses have come by eight points or less.

"My time here at Polk has been a roller coast with up and downs – more ups than downs – but it prepared me for life," Howard said. "Polk has taught me how to take adversity, overcome it, and be a better person."

The season has taken its toll as many players have missed time due to injuries. Not a single player has played in every game for the Eagles. Still, the sophomores are grateful for their experiences.

"Coach Brandon and Coach Jack believed in me since day one," added Vertus, who recently received his first NCAA Division I offer from Jackson State University. "They're two great guys who trusted in me. It all worked out."

Giles noted that having 14 new players was not without its challenges. The head coach, however, noticed growth from his team on the court and as people.

"It's extremely tough to get that many new faces to mesh, but that's the nature of junior college," Giles said. "That's why having an established culture is vitally important. We bring them in during the summer, have them work our camps, and get to know the community."

Many of the newcomers first stepped foot on campus for the Brandon Giles Skills Camp in July. Giles noted that some players such as Pridgett have continued to mentor youngsters who attended the camp.

"For somebody considering coming to Polk, I would say to try something new," Pridgett said. "Engulf yourself in this program, this environment, this culture. The impact my coaches have had on me has been tremendous. They've given me extra confidence in myself and allowed me to be myself."

"Coach Jack and Coach Giles have had a huge impact on me," Hamrick added. "Once I got here, I fell in love with the campus, the city, the atmosphere, with them as people."

Following the Sophomore Night tilt with the Falcons, the Eagles will conclude the season with two road games before returning home to take on St. Petersburg College for the season finale. While an FCSAA Tournament appearance is likely out of the question for this season, the sophomores are optimistic about the future of the program.

"For anyone considering this program, I would say to come in with an open mind and be ready to work," Hamrick said. "The potential is through the roof."

Simpson and Vertus offered similar advice for potential Polk State players.

"For someone considering Polk, I would say be ready to work hard and discipline yourself," Simpson added. "There are going to be hardships, so be ready to be the best version of yourself you can be."

"If you have an ego, drop it," Vertus suggested. "Come and embrace the love and the brotherhood and friends you're going to make along the way. Be ready to work. Embrace the culture and have fun."