Joe Badgett is in his first season as boys’ basketball coach at Carmel Christian.
Jonathan Aguallo Special to the Observer
New Carmel coach Joe Badgett is a former Cougars assistant taking over after Byron Dinkins left for a college job on the Charlotte 49ers’ staff. Badgett has known Donovan Gregory since he was 3. Badgett’s family and the Gregorys attended the same church. Badgett remembers when Jeremy Gregory was born.
He never imagined he would coach both brothers at the same time.
“I tell people all the time that Donovan’s basketball game is good, but I’m more impressed with his character,” Badgett said. “He’s always been a great student. I’ve never had any calls about him in terms of discipline. He gets it. He takes care of what he’s supposed to take care of and his reward is what’s happening with his basketball right now.”
Donovan thinks his brother - gifted with soft hands, good footwork and what Badgett calls “an innate understanding of the game” - will one day be better than him. And Gregory is a near-consensus top 150 national talent.
“With Jeremy,” Badgett said, “it’s trying to get him to understand he’s good and not just Donovan’s little brother. We’re trying to grow him into that mindset. Because the sky’s the limit with that kid. I mean, really. He could be one of the best big guys to ever come out of (Mecklenburg) county.”
Jonathan Aguallo Special to the Observer
New Carmel coach Joe Badgett is a former Cougars assistant taking over after Byron Dinkins left for a college job on the Charlotte 49ers’ staff. Badgett has known Donovan Gregory since he was 3. Badgett’s family and the Gregorys attended the same church. Badgett remembers when Jeremy Gregory was born.
He never imagined he would coach both brothers at the same time.
“I tell people all the time that Donovan’s basketball game is good, but I’m more impressed with his character,” Badgett said. “He’s always been a great student. I’ve never had any calls about him in terms of discipline. He gets it. He takes care of what he’s supposed to take care of and his reward is what’s happening with his basketball right now.”
Donovan thinks his brother - gifted with soft hands, good footwork and what Badgett calls “an innate understanding of the game” - will one day be better than him. And Gregory is a near-consensus top 150 national talent.
“With Jeremy,” Badgett said, “it’s trying to get him to understand he’s good and not just Donovan’s little brother. We’re trying to grow him into that mindset. Because the sky’s the limit with that kid. I mean, really. He could be one of the best big guys to ever come out of (Mecklenburg) county.”
