With just one returning starter, a roster full of underclassmen, and an offseason of irregular practices, Gatewood boys basketball coach Don Keiser could be forgiven for entering the 2025–26 season with caution.
Instead, he’s leaning in the opposite direction, buoyed by a season-opening 76-44 win Nov. 17 over John Hancock Academy in Sparta.
“I’m very excited about the possibilities,” Keiser declared in a phone interview last Wednesday. “I think we can compete in every game. I really do.”
The Gators graduated four starters last spring, including Keiser’s son, Kaden. The team also lost Matt Allen, already the school’s all-time top scorer as a junior last season, to an unexpected transfer at the end of the school year. That leaves junior guard Landon Moreno as the lone returning starter on the current Gatewood squad.
Regardless, early workouts have given the veteran coach reason to believe his retooled roster has more potential than many expected.
“I really don’t have a lot to go by,” Keiser admitted. “Landon’s the only starter returning, and Lake [Ferman], who’s a senior now, he’s played a good bit, too. Brady [Haley] took a year off, but he’s coming back to us, which is really, really good, such a blessing.”
The Gators’ summer schedule offered limited chances to build chemistry. Vacations, football commitments, and scattered availability have kept the team from practicing at full strength. Still, Keiser said what he’s seen so far has been encouraging.
Among the biggest surprises has been the play of eighth-grader Bennett Haley, who led the Gators with 23 points in the game against John Hancock. His older brother, Brady, returns as a sophomore guard and continues to show “sharp instincts” at both ends of the court, Keiser said.
“It’s going to be fun to see those two brothers playing together,” the coach said. “Brady, he finds that ball. He’ll steal it. He also had eight assists in that [John Hancock] game, so I’m looking forward to seeing them work together.”
Meanwhile, Kaiser said Ferman, now 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, has shown dramatic improvement.
“Lake has been the unbelievable surprise,” the coach declared. “He could be unstoppable if he plays like he can and gets it in his mind. I don’t think he realizes how good he can be.”
Keiser also highlighted the development of 6-foot-7 football standout Drew Clevenger, who is new to Gatewood this school year and to organized basketball as well.
“I’ve never seen a kid make such progress in three weeks,” Keiser said. “He was pretty static at first, and now he’s catching balls on the run, laying it up, setting nice, big picks. That’s a big body. I see him getting some minutes.”
Other expected contributors include returning sophomore Harrison Harper, 6-foot-2 freshman Peyton Traylor, and several rotational players who saw limited varsity time last season.
Regardless, the Gators’ schedule offers no easing-in period. The team opened a condensed five-game home stand Tuesday night against Augusta Prep (after press time for The Eatonton Messenger), followed by tip-offs against Piedmont, GMC, John Hancock, and Mount de Sales, all by next Tuesday.
The team’s next away game will be on Dec. 12 at Piedmont in Monticello.
Keiser said he believes those tests coming in so quickly will quickly reveal where his team stands, but insists the group is further along than expected.
“We’re looking better than I thought we would,” he said. “We had a pretty good summer. I think it was just a shock to some of the system — the speed of varsity play, especially for my eighth graders. But I really think we’re going to surprise some people.”
As for region competition, Keiser pointed to the usual powers.
“CFCA (Central Fellowship Christian Academy, in Macon) and Brentwood are going to be loaded,” he said. “And Trinity, they’ve got their old coach back that won state for them. So, this year they’re going to have good coaching.”
Still, Keiser said he believes Gatewood won’t be outclassed.
“I really don’t think there’s a team out there that we can’t beat if we’re doing the right things,” he said, though immediately acknowledging it could be a big “if.”
For now, though, the coach’s biggest wish is simply to have everyone in the gym at once.
“I just need them all there, all getting ready,” he said. “I have yet to have a full practice with everybody there.”
With only two seniors and one junior suiting up this season, whether the Gators’ young core proves to be its weakness or its greatest weapon remains to be seen. Regardless, Keiser appears certain of one thing as the season gets going.
“Win or lose, this will be a fun team to watch,” he predicted. “And it should be a fun team to coach, too.”