Justin Bass faces a tough challenge as new head boys basketballcoach at Enterprise. The Yellow Jackets haven’t enjoyed a lot ofsuccess over the past few years but Bass hopes to change all ofthat.

Bass replaces Rickey Gray who took a similar position at McCombParklane. In two years at Enterprise, Gray only won two games.

Bass comes from Hattiesburg where he coached the 9th grade boysand served as an assistant under varsity boys head coach YamaJones.

“I’ve had a lot of negative input as far as my players go,” saidBass. . “I expect to improve them more than people expect. I thinkI have ability here with these guys. They have worked hard thissummer”

Bass, 24, grew up in Pike County and is a graduate of NorthPike. He played high school basketball as a shooting guard forretired head coach Cassels Wilson.

Bass graduated from Southwest Community College and SouthernMiss. He has a degree in coaching/sports administration.

While in college, Bass got some hands-on experience working as avolunteer student coach with Dale Watts at Brookhaven Academy.During the 2002 and 2003 campaigns, the BA boys won the state titlein 2003. In 2002, BA finished second in the AA and advanced to thequarterfinals in the MPSA Overall Tournament.

“I am really excited,” said Bass about the opportunity to coachat Enterprise. “I can’t’ wait to get my game philosophy into asystem. After being with both Watts and Jones, they have programsand to do this job.

At Enterprise, Bass teaches 8th grade history and safetyeducation.

“I hope to play man-to-man defense,” explained Bass. “I hope forus to be more patient. We will play with a better attitude. We willhave more discipline with the basketball.”

Bass knows it will take time to learn the man-to-man defense.”Defensively, I don’t know if we will be ready to play man-to-man,”stated Bass. “We have a ways to go as far as teaching.”