Entering his ninth season as the boys basketball coach at Harlan High School, Derrick Akal rebuilt a struggling program once with seven straight trip to the 13th Region Tournament and four straight 13th Region All “A” Classic titles.
The run of success reached its peak with consecutive 20-plus win seasons in 2022 and 2023, including a brief ranking at the top of the state in the RPI system two years ago after starting the year 9-0. Graduation losses eventually took their toll as the Dragons dropped to 6-21 last season. Star guard Kyler McLendon moved on to the University of the Cumberlands and Trent Cole transferred to Harlan County. Several others, including seniors Hunter Clem, Darius Akal and Nate Montanaro, decided not to play. What’s left behind is the region’s youngest squad with no seniors and only one junior on a roster dominated by underclassmen.
Akal must now start over again, but this time with almost no experience.
“This is one of the most fun groups I’ve coached,” said Akal, who has been coaching since the 2002-2003 season after retiring from the armed forces. “They are ultra competitive. Every day is a competition. They get along, but they fight. With no seniors and only one junior, it’s something every day. It has kind of rejuvenated me.”
That kind of balance has made practice competitive with very little difference from the best players on the team to those at the bottom.
“I tell them all the time that your teammate is just has to be as good as you plus one,” Akal said. “These guys can jump from 10 to 2 or from 2 to 10 very easily as far as how they rank on the team. The gap isn’t very far. Every day is a competition.”
Akal expects to open with a lineup featuring four freshmen, including Jaxson Perry at point guard and Ethan Huff at a wing.
Perry, a middle school standout last season, worked his way into the varsity rotation by the end of the year and finished at 4.8 points per game in eight games.
“He has great court vision and feel for the game. He’s a competitor and tough kid,” Akal said. “He’s a team player.”
Akal has been impressed by the intensity Huff has brought to the team. He suffered a knee injury and sat out last year.
“He’s an all-around good player and so far is one of the toughest kids I’ve coached,” he said.
Eric Evans, a sophomore who played in 14 varsity games last year, will likely start at the other wing.
“He’s smooth and consistent and good off the ball. He’s also a good shooter,” Akal said.
Izack Saylor, a 6-3 freshman who saw junior varsity action last season, is a good leaper and athlete who was a track standout last spring. He is expected to start at forward.
“He’s long and athletic,” Akal said. “He’s also a good shooter.”
Kobe Noe, a 6-3 freshman who is the younger brother of Lady Dragons star Kylie Noe, is expected to take over as the Dragons’ center.
“He’s a big, strong kid who is good inside and can shoot it from the outside,” Akal said. “He has a feel for the game and is a team player.”
Brenton Bargo, a freshman, should provide a spark off the bench at guard.
“He’s a very talented player who can pass and shoot. We expect him to have a big impact for us this year.”
Dylan Cox is by the far the most experienced player on the roster as a starter most of last season. He averaged 5.3 points per game to rank third on the team and has been one of the team’s top 3-point shooters each of the past two years.
“He’s Mr. Hustle. He’s all over the floor and is a good shooter,” Akal said. “We expect some leadership from Dylan.”
Eli Noe, at 6-1, and Braxton Rowe, at 6-3, provide depth at forward. Both are freshmen.
“They are tough guys who will help us inside,” Akal said.
With players coming from several middle schools around the county, the Dragons are learning each other while learning what it takes to play on the high school varsity level.
“We could play five freshmen at times, but these guys have never played together, so it’s a learning experience for them,” Akal said. “They were stars on their middle school teams, and we have to put all that together.”
As for the 52nd District race, Akal insists he isn’t concerned with where Harlan fits in the picture as the season opens. Harlan County and Bell County are the frontrunners after bringing back several key players from last year’s strong teams.
“I don’t worry about where we stand in the district at this point. I know it sounds like coach talk, but I just want us to stack days and get better,” he said. “HC is the favorite until someone beats them, but I think Bell County is one of the top teams in the region and very capable of winning the region this year. Middlesboro will has Jerimah Beck, and he’s tough
While Harlan received no preseason buzz after last year’s struggles and a rough summer, Akal says this year’s Dragons don’t look at themselves as a team near the bottom of the regional standings.
“They don’t see it that way, and that’s what I love about them. They expect to be a good basketball team,” he said. “There is no pressure on them, and the unknown is kind of fun. It might be scary if there were any expectations, but I kind of look at it as 30 chances to get better.”
Akal isn’t making any predictions or setting any specific goals on what he expects.
“It’s my first time coaching a team like this, so my goal is to get better every day and see how that works out,” he said. “I don’t know what I’ll get execution wise, but I expect them to compete.”