Lehi Expects To Be a Bigger Force in 5A Ranks
By Jared Lloyd
Provo Daily Herald
The Lehi boys basketball team could easily be compared to the growth of a young child: A baby starts
learning to crawl and it takes some time to get stabilized but when it does, it quickly becomes adept. It then
goes through the same process for walking and running, changing from awkward, toddling steps to
confidently speeding around the house.
Such has been the experience for the Pioneers, who excelled for years in the 3A ranks before taking wobbly
paces in the 4A ranks in 2005 and then enduring some tumbles in Class 5A in 2007.
"We knew it was going to be tough when we got kicked up," said Lehi coach Craig Gladwell, who's guided
the team through each change. "It has been for four or five years. When we moved from 3A to 4A, we
struggled in the first year then did better in the second season and made it to state.
"Then we moved to 5A and it became a situation of figuring out who we are. We've been growing so fast that
we don't have a real identity. But that doesn't mean we can't win some games and we hope to do a lot better
this season."
The team and the school faces one more year of change next summer with the return to Class 4A and the
opening of the new Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs, which creates turmoil of its own.
"We're going to lose kids but we don't know who," Gladwell explained. "We could be playing or sitting kids
that we could need or could leave. The kids that will be seniors and juniors will have the choice next year,
but we won't know what those choices are. That's an advantage to the student, but a disadvantage to the
program."
With the past and the future both having plenty of changes, Gladwell and the Pioneers are hoping they'll find
stability and success on the court this season.
"We've had a pretty good offseason and have three returning starters," the Lehi coach said. "It's a whole
different ball game with players that have the experience and confidence of playing at this level. We feel like
we can compete to be part of the upper half of the region."
The Pioneers will rely on the returning starters - senior forward Jake Obioma, senior point guard Corey
Smith and junior center William Walker - to provide the leadership and maturity necessary to be successful
in a tough league.
"Jake Obioma has really worked hard and could be a real force for us," Gladwell said. "He loves the
challenge of guarding top players and he brings an energy and explosiveness you just can't coach.
"Corey Smith does a great job in the open court, he sees the floor well and can shoot the ball well. When he
decides to direct the team, he does a great job.
"William Walker has really developed several post moves and has good footwork. He led the team in
scoring last year and is a really good inside threat for us."
Those three won't be doing it alone, however, as Lehi has other players ready for their opportunity.
"Senior forward Kyle Hinton has really improved from last year and his inside skills have improved, while
junior Josh Scott gives us some great depth inside," Gladwell said. "We also have shooting guard Mua
Faleao who has improved his shooting a lot, plus he's quick and athletic. He has the ability to get by people
and finish."
The Pioneers have a team this season that has played a lot together, that communicates well and feeds off
each other, according the their head coach. He believes that they can be very successful if they play unified
and find ways to finish games.
The road won't be easy, as Lehi still has to deal with a number of strong opponents in Region 4 and the
league will only have three teams going to the 5A state tournament, meaning there's no margin for error.
"We're going to shoot for one of those spots," Gladwell said. "If we do what we're supposed to do within the
system, we have the weapons to be dangerous."
The Pioneers played defending 4A champ Provo very close and will get some additional early tests in
preseason with games against Mountain View and Timpview.
LEHI FACTS
Head Coach: Craig Gladwell
2007-08 record: 7-14, 1-9 Region 4
Post-season: none
Key losses: Tyson Henderson 6-3 G (11.6 ppg), Josh Swenson 6-1 G (4.9)
Key returnees: William Walker 6-5 Jr. C (13.9), Corey Smith 6-0 Sr. G (9.8), Jake Obioma 6-2 Sr. F (9.3),
Zach Stanley 6-0 Soph., Kyle Hinton 6-6 Sr., Josh Scott 6-7 Jr., Mua Faleao 6-1 Sr.
The Word: Walker is one of the Valley's top post men and should continue to improve. Smith and
Obioma can both score, so expect the Pioneers to move up in tough Region 4.
By Jared Lloyd
Provo Daily Herald
The Lehi boys basketball team could easily be compared to the growth of a young child: A baby starts
learning to crawl and it takes some time to get stabilized but when it does, it quickly becomes adept. It then
goes through the same process for walking and running, changing from awkward, toddling steps to
confidently speeding around the house.
Such has been the experience for the Pioneers, who excelled for years in the 3A ranks before taking wobbly
paces in the 4A ranks in 2005 and then enduring some tumbles in Class 5A in 2007.
"We knew it was going to be tough when we got kicked up," said Lehi coach Craig Gladwell, who's guided
the team through each change. "It has been for four or five years. When we moved from 3A to 4A, we
struggled in the first year then did better in the second season and made it to state.
"Then we moved to 5A and it became a situation of figuring out who we are. We've been growing so fast that
we don't have a real identity. But that doesn't mean we can't win some games and we hope to do a lot better
this season."
The team and the school faces one more year of change next summer with the return to Class 4A and the
opening of the new Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs, which creates turmoil of its own.
"We're going to lose kids but we don't know who," Gladwell explained. "We could be playing or sitting kids
that we could need or could leave. The kids that will be seniors and juniors will have the choice next year,
but we won't know what those choices are. That's an advantage to the student, but a disadvantage to the
program."
With the past and the future both having plenty of changes, Gladwell and the Pioneers are hoping they'll find
stability and success on the court this season.
"We've had a pretty good offseason and have three returning starters," the Lehi coach said. "It's a whole
different ball game with players that have the experience and confidence of playing at this level. We feel like
we can compete to be part of the upper half of the region."
The Pioneers will rely on the returning starters - senior forward Jake Obioma, senior point guard Corey
Smith and junior center William Walker - to provide the leadership and maturity necessary to be successful
in a tough league.
"Jake Obioma has really worked hard and could be a real force for us," Gladwell said. "He loves the
challenge of guarding top players and he brings an energy and explosiveness you just can't coach.
"Corey Smith does a great job in the open court, he sees the floor well and can shoot the ball well. When he
decides to direct the team, he does a great job.
"William Walker has really developed several post moves and has good footwork. He led the team in
scoring last year and is a really good inside threat for us."
Those three won't be doing it alone, however, as Lehi has other players ready for their opportunity.
"Senior forward Kyle Hinton has really improved from last year and his inside skills have improved, while
junior Josh Scott gives us some great depth inside," Gladwell said. "We also have shooting guard Mua
Faleao who has improved his shooting a lot, plus he's quick and athletic. He has the ability to get by people
and finish."
The Pioneers have a team this season that has played a lot together, that communicates well and feeds off
each other, according the their head coach. He believes that they can be very successful if they play unified
and find ways to finish games.
The road won't be easy, as Lehi still has to deal with a number of strong opponents in Region 4 and the
league will only have three teams going to the 5A state tournament, meaning there's no margin for error.
"We're going to shoot for one of those spots," Gladwell said. "If we do what we're supposed to do within the
system, we have the weapons to be dangerous."
The Pioneers played defending 4A champ Provo very close and will get some additional early tests in
preseason with games against Mountain View and Timpview.
LEHI FACTS
Head Coach: Craig Gladwell
2007-08 record: 7-14, 1-9 Region 4
Post-season: none
Key losses: Tyson Henderson 6-3 G (11.6 ppg), Josh Swenson 6-1 G (4.9)
Key returnees: William Walker 6-5 Jr. C (13.9), Corey Smith 6-0 Sr. G (9.8), Jake Obioma 6-2 Sr. F (9.3),
Zach Stanley 6-0 Soph., Kyle Hinton 6-6 Sr., Josh Scott 6-7 Jr., Mua Faleao 6-1 Sr.
The Word: Walker is one of the Valley's top post men and should continue to improve. Smith and
Obioma can both score, so expect the Pioneers to move up in tough Region 4.
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