By Charlie Browning
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Unlike the majority of players on the basketball team this year, seniors Nyree Robinson and David “Clayton” Sanders didn’t grow up playing basketball in the Carmel system. Instead, at this time last year, they were at Fort Wayne Elmhurst and Mount Vernon high school, respectively, playing basketball on successful Class 3A teams.   As a result of some uncommon circumstances, though, this year they are suiting up for the Carmel basketball team.

Sanders, who was a major contributor in leading Mount Vernon to the Class 3A Semi-state, ended up at Carmel because his stepfather, Scott Heady, accepted the coaching position at CHS. Sanders said he has enjoyed the transfer of schools and likes playing at a school with a high-caliber schedule such as CHS.
“It was a good switch of schools, and I enjoy all the players and coaching staff here,” Sanders said. “(Mount Vernon) was a 3A school, and the schedule there is nowhere near as hard as Carmel’s. Here, by the end of the year, we have the number-one rated schedule in Indiana.”

Robinson came to Carmel because Fort Wayne Elmhurst no longer had a basketball program starting this year, which gave him the eligibility to transfer to any school of his choice.
“I’ve enjoyed playing at Carmel and have become close with some of the guys on the team here,” Robinson said. “It has definitely been a good transition for me.”

Heady said the addition of Robinson and Sanders to the team has been a positive addition for the basketball team.
“Both guys came from successful programs, and they are high-character men who have adjusted well to the new setting,” Heady said. “They came from two schools that won and were established programs, and they did very well to adjust into different roles this year.”

Heady said both Robinson and Sanders bring something important to the game, but each is different in his style of play.
“Clayton is more of a defender,” Heady said. “He is a versatile combo guard who plays smart and just does what he has to do to produce a win. Nyree is more of an athletic slasher who is really explosive in transition. He can use his athleticism defensively and is a good rebounder as well.”

Sanders said although he has been asked to do many of the same responsibilities on the court at Carmel as Mount Vernon, the style in which Carmel plays differs from the style he played at Mount Vernon last year.
“We are a faster-paced team here where we like to score in transition and play pressure defense,” Sanders said.

“Last year my role was to play point guard and get other guys shots, and this year I still need to be a team player and continue to try to get other guys shots.”

Heady said the team has played well in spurts but has failed to put together a full 32 minutes collectively, and that Sanders and Robinson can be key factors in helping the team find consistency. “Right now our main issue is consistency,” Heady said. “We’ve shown signs of playing very good basketball, but we haven’t been able to put 32 minutes together yet. The work ethic and attitude on this team are very good, and they are all high-character guys. With both Nyree and

Clayton coming from winning programs, I think they can bring that winning attitude to our program.”

Heady said he believes the team has potential as long as it continues to improve. “Our goal is just to get better each week and continue to improve each game,” Heady said. “I think if we do that then we will be up there contending for conference championships. It sounds simple, just get better as the year goes on, but that’s what we are focused on.”
As the team enters the most important part of its season, the focus of always getting better becomes more and more important. The team is reaching the middle of its Metro Interscholastic Conference (MIC) schedule with teams such as Ben Davis, Lawrence North and Warren Central. “Everyone has started to find and accept their role,” Heady said.

“Our chemistry continues to get better. We had six players who were new to varsity basketball, so it takes time for them to gel; it’s a process.”