DALTON, Ga. - Evan Lester has come full circle.
The Christian Heritage School senior two-sport star spends his practice time on the basketball court doing as much teaching as he does learning. The four-year starter is a key member of a 12-2 team that starts three freshmen, giving the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Lester the opportunity to impart some of the same wisdom he started learning three seasons ago.
"It's different this year, and it hit me that when I started as a freshman, I was the one getting mentored," Lester said with a laugh. "Now I'm in that role. We've got a bunch of kids who want to win and they want to learn. The three freshmen have played together since they were kids, and I've known them a long time."
Lester and fellow senior Nash Bingham are the steadying forces on a squad that features freshmen Jax Abernathy - a high-octane, high-energy scorer - smooth point guard Zundra Jackson and physical forward Cash Hare. Each has had big moments, Lions coach Tyler Watkins said.
"Jax is a special player," Watkins said. "He had 37 points in a win over Boyd Buchanan, over 20 against Hamilton Heights and 30 at Knox Webb. He's an extremely talented kid who makes me a lot better coach than I really am.
"The three freshmen have been so consistent for us. Zundra Jackson is a natural point guard who handles pressure well, and Cash will do anything we ask of him and he doesn't mind getting physical. We also have four seniors, including Nash and Evan, who have played really well for us."
Added Watkins, who set program records during his playing career for the Lions and took over as coach at his alma mater in 2014: "It's probably the deepest team I've had."
Football is Lester's first love, a sport he will continue to play at Georgia Southern University after announcing his commitment to the Eagles at Thursday night's Christian Heritage football banquet. The two-way starter and Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen member, who had more than 20 scholarship offers, will stay on offense in college as a tight end/receiver.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Christian Heritage's Evan Lester, with football, was a two-way standout for the Lions this past season and has committed to Georgia Southern in that sport. However, he is also a leader for his school's basketball team as a senior starter for a lineup that features three talented freshmen.For now, though, he will continue to try to lead the basketball Lions, who won 69 games in Lester's first three seasons, to a deep postseason run. First, however, the team has to navigate one of Georgia's most difficult private school regions.
"It's tough," Lester said, "and we know every team in our region can beat us. We also think we can beat them."
Christian Heritage's two losses, to powerhouse Hamilton Heights Christian Academy of Chattanooga by four and Knoxville Webb by one, may say as much about that possibility as the wins. The list of victories for the Lions this season already includes two over Boyd Buchanan, as well as one against GHSA Class AAAAAA neighbor Dalton and another at Region 7-A rival Darlington.
"Losing those two close games to me proved we could play with pretty much anyone," Lester said. "We knew after those games we had to work on some things, but they gave us confidence."
Watkins knows more tests are coming as Region 7-A plays out over the next three weeks. The Lions having already earned road wins at Darlington and Excel Christian Academy helps, but he will find out even more after Friday night's game at North Cobb Christian.
"Darlington is really, really talented this year, so that was a big road win for us," the coach said. "We haven't played a region home game yet. North Cobb Christian has three of the top players in our league, so it won't get any easier. You can't take a breath in this region."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.