After losing seven players to graduation, the Haralson County High School basketball team will have plenty of new guys making an impact this season.

And Rebel coach Whitt Brown said he’s looking at it as an opportunity for his program to build new momentum.

“They’re young. They’re excited,” Brown said. “Sometimes it’s good to get new blood, and everything is, you know, rejuvenated by some newness to things.”

With so many guys adjusting to their roles as they join the team or take on more responsibility, Brown has found the players’ willingness to listen refreshing.

“They know they don’t know everything right now,” Brown said. “And so being coachable is a great thing.”

Haralson County, which opens its season Saturday at Temple, has five seniors and junior, with the rest of the players being underclassmen. Brown said seniors Cody Maria and James Watkins have done a particularly good job of helping the younger guys find their way.

“They’ve done a good job of kind of keeping us down the right path and focusing the guys and make sure that they’re learning what they’re supposed to be learning,” Brown said.

He expects his team to have more size this year than in other recent seasons.

“We’re fixing to get some more height than we’ve ever had since I’ve been here and a little bit more athleticism all the way around probably,” Brown said.

Brown is also optimistic his team will be able to shoot well.

On the defensive side of the ball, he is looking for big things from sophomore Antoine Phillips, who he said is one of a few Rebel players who can cause opponents problems with their quickness on defense. Brown has also taken note of good shooting from junior Brandon Parker in the team’s preseason practices.

He suggested that the ingredients are there for a good season. Now it’s a matter of his young guys gaining experience and confidence.

“Really the biggest thing right now is experience. We’ve just got to get the kids playing some games and get some experience under their belts,” Brown said. “I mean, we have a chance to have a pretty decent little season.”