Deciding to Cover the Tournament
Last month I heard about the WV high school basketball playoffs through a coaching buddy. Got curious about new talent coming up since my usual focus is college ball. Dug around for schedules and realized the state tournament would hit Charleston by March 2025. Thought it’d be fun to scout fresh faces, so I cleared my calendar for tournament week.
Gearing Up & Getting There
Grabbed my Nikon Z6 with a 70-200mm lens – perfect for fast court action. Packed two extra batteries because tournament days run long. Drove down to Charleston Civic Center at 7 AM sharp Wednesday, fighting icy roads the whole way. Nearly slid into a ditch near Beckley but made it just before tip-off. Paid $20 for all-day parking and hauled my gear through side entrance.
Spotting the Standouts
Watched eight games back-to-back over three days. Focused on underclassmen since vets already get coverage. Two kids immediately jumped out:
- First was this lanky sophomore from Wheeling High #23. Dude snatched 12 rebounds in one quarter against Parkersburg. His timing looked unreal.
- Then a point guard from Bluefield #5. Only 5’9″ but sliced through double teams like butter. Made a full-court buzzer beater.
Chatted with coaches during halftime breaks. Bluefield’s assistant confirmed #5 trains six hours daily despite asthma issues – crazy dedication.
Documentation Nightmares
Hit a snag Friday when my camera screen glitched during semi-finals. Had to eyeball shots manually praying the focus held. Next day, a security guard nearly confiscated my monopod claiming “pro equipment” rules. Showed my media pass from the WVSSAC website (printed it luckily) and argued till he backed off. Still missed half of Huntington High’s game dealing with that mess.
Finding Hidden Gems
Almost packed up Sunday before catching the 3A consolation game. Glad I stayed – spotted a raw but explosive freshman forward from Webster County. Kid scored 9 points in 90 seconds off pure hustle. Jotted his jersey number (#30) and chatted with his dad after. Turns out he only started playing seriously last summer.
Wrapping It Up
Drove home exhausted with 900+ photos and a notebook full of observations. Edited highlights using DaVinci Resolve instead of my usual Premiere after that subscription lapsed. Uploaded the reel yesterday tagging those four new names. Already got DMs from two JUCO scouts asking about #5’s contact info. Mission accomplished.
Biggest takeaway? Always carry backup gear and never skip the early consolation games – that’s where hungry underdogs shine.