Concord, NC – When it comes to 3A basketball in the state of North Carolina, Concord’s Cox Mill High School is the gold standard. Ten years, two state championships, five conference tournament titles and four regular-season titles; dominance at its finest. The school has become a true model of consistency. 2019 brought change to the program. Jody Barbee, who led the team to two state championships, resigned in March. Current Duke forward Wendell Moore graduated along with Charlotte’s Caleb Stone-Carrwwell. The Chargers return just two seniors from last year’s squad, however, the team is not ready to hit the restart button yet. Now off to a 2-0 start to begin the season, Cox Mill is up for the task of capturing its fourth consecutive Southern Piedmont Conference Championship. It won’t be easy this time around and they know it.
After a defeat in the Western regional championship to Southeast Guilford last season, Cox Mill’s legendary head coach Jody Barbee resigned to spend more time with his family. The unexpected resignation left a big pair of shoes to fill for the next head coach. Four months later, Chargers Athletic Director Phil Davanzo announced his ‘chosen one’ to lead one of the most storied programs in the state over the past decade.
Ty Johnson grew up in Wilkesboro, NC, a small town of approximately 3,400 residents sitting 90 minutes north of Charlotte. The son of Tommy Johnson, who had a 30-year coaching career in the Wilkesboro area, Johnson was able to acquire a coaching mentality at an early age. “I grew up in the basketball gym,” said Johnson. “I was always a coach kid and learning from him, I caught the coaching bug and knew I wanted to be a head coach.”
Following a stellar career at Warren Wilson College (Asheville, NC), which saw him become the nation’s leading 3-point shooter and All-American, Johnson dove head-first into the coaching ranks, with stops at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (Hudson, NC) and West Brunswick High School (Shallotte, NC). Five years later, the 27-year old knew Cox Mill was a place he wanted to call home. “I was in a great situation at West Brunswick but there was just something special about Cox Mill,” said Johnson. “Coach Barbee built this program to be one of the best in the state. The vision the administration has to build on that and be recognized nationally aligns with the vision I have for us as well.”
With no returning starters, Johnson knows his team will need to rely on consistent effort and hard work to ward off its opponents. “We don’t believe there will be any changes to the success we have had in previous years. These are a group of unselfish kids who come to practice and work their tails off every single day. They have bought into our culture and they believe in themselves.”
Senior combo-guard Wesley Poindexter agrees. The 3-point specialist knows the team has what it takes to continue its Southern Piedmont Conference dominance. “Everybody is giving so much effort and really buying into what we are trying to do,” said Poindexter. “When you lose as many talented seniors as we have, we know people are going to doubt us but we don’t pay attention to that. All twelve guys on our roster are going to give 100 percent. Everything we need to have success this year is in our locker room and I have no doubt we have what it takes to get us there.”
Joining Poindexter in the back-court will be sophomore point guard Quave’ Propst-Allison. The 6’0 slashing guard, finished with a team-high 19 points in the Chargers’ season-opening win against Sun Valley Tuesday night. Propst-Allison was a reserve on last year’s veteran-ladened team and is not intimidated by the task of carrying the offense. “I don’t feel any pressure at all. I’ve learned how to be mentally tough and I’m ready to be a leader on this team.”
Can Charger fans expect the same kind of success that they are used to experiencing? “Yes,” said Propst-Allison emphatically. “We know we have a target on a back but as long as we play together I know we’re going to be alright.”
