Seneca Hill is quick to credit the leadership he received from three of his coaches, who he said played major roles in his growth as a person and a basketball player.
“I learned from coaches Greg Grantham, Tony Marshburn and, rest in peace, Otto Taylor, and I know the things they did for me,” Hill said. “I want to take what I learned from them and give back to the younger generation.”
Hill has an opportunity to do that again on the court as he has returned as head coach of the Lejeune boys’ basketball team. The 1998 White Oak graduate head coached the Devilpups in the 2014-2015 season, but has remained involved with the program and the volleyball team for several more years.
Hill is also in his 14th year as a special needs teacher at Brewster Middle. He was also on the coaching staff for Northside’s 2017 state championship team.
“It’s been fun and I am glad to be back,” Hill said. “Basketball is my love and it feels great to be back. I am glad to have this second opportunity with Lejeune. I have been working with them the last six or even years at summer camps and summer leagues and I am glad our hard work is paying off.”
Hill takes over a program that is still rebounding from having its 2020-2021 season canceled by the Department of Defense Education Activity because of COVID.
The Devilpups were 0-19 the following year, but were 6-16 last season in Hugh Muller’s final year as head coach. Lejeune is 3-0 this season, entering Monday’s game at Southeastern Homeschool.
The Devilpups opened with a 66-63 victory over Richlands on Nov. 17, won 87-70 at North Duplin on Nov. 28 and won 80-44 at Liberty Christian Academy on Thursday. Lejeune hosts North Duplin on Dec. 6 before things get tougher with nonconference games with Croatan and Swansboro on the horizon.
Lejeune will then participate in the Onslow County Classic holiday tournament at White Oak from Dec. 27-29.
“We want to gain respect,” Hill said. “We don’t have that respect from the rest of Onslow County schools and that is what these guys want. They have been laughed at for years, so they have a chip on their shoulders.”
The Devilpups have several players who have done well early this season, including juniors Devon Charles and Trevor Highsmith.
Charles averages 22.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, four assists and 2.7 steals per game while Highsmith averages 20.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, four steals and two blocks.
They are complemented by junior Conner Shea (13 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 3.7 steals) and sophomore James Rod (12 points, six rebounds, 1.7 steals), among others.
“I love this group. They work hard,” Hill said. “They will run through a wall if I ask them, and they won’t second-guess it. They leave everything on the floor.”
But while Hill is pleased with his team’s start, he knows the Devilpups still have work to do if they are to compete in the Coastal Plains 1-A/2-A Conference.
“The key to our success is just to keep working and keep grinding,” Hill said. “We are still turning the ball over, so we need to clean that up. We want to get better each game. So, our job is to stay focused and not let up.”