How Central Cabarrus’ Daniel twins are preparing to defend their 3A title
Why is Central Cabarrus one of the favorites, if not the favorite, to win the North Carolina 3A state boys’ basketball championship this season?
Vikings coach Jim Baker said the team’s success will revolve around the returning backcourt of twins Chase and Carson Daniel.
“These two are just some of the most humble kids,” Baker said. “Everyone knows they are great young men, but when your best players are your hardest workers, it is funny how everything else just seems to fall into place. It carries over to the rest of the team as well. With all that being said, I think we’ve got a good shot going into this season.”
The Vikings start the season No. 3 in The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 poll, the highest of any 3A team, and are coming off a perfect 32-0 season where their closest win was a a 68-61 win against United Faith last December. United Faith finished as runner-up in the NCISAA 1A state championship game.
Most of the Vikings’ wins last season were by large margins, with victories by an average of 38 points.
This season, the Daniels twins are back for more.
Chase Daniel, who is considered a combo guard, averaged 13.2 points, 4.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season. Carson Daniel, more of a true point guard, averaged 10.2 points, 6.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds. The two were catalysts on the defensive side of the ball as well, both averaging more than three steals per game.
“We’ve just got to stay consistent and put our best foot forward,” Chase Daniel said. “We just have to continue to work as hard as possible and rely on the person to our left and right. I think we need to just trust our coaches and lean on one another like we always have.”
Carson Daniel said the Vikings’ success will come down to one thing.
“We over me is everything,” Carson said. “That motto is how we get through the day. It is how we approach each game, each practice. It is honestly how to approach life. One day I might not be feeling it, but Chase is right there to pick me up. And it really means a lot to be able to trust our teammates and rely on one another.”
This culture that the Vikings have built is primarily player-driven, according to their coach.
“The culture really began when Chase and Carson came in,” Baker said. “They both just really drove it home and said, ‘Look, we are going to be serious about it.’ I tell the kids that high school should be some of the best times of your life. And, these are just kids. They like to cut up, they have girlfriends, they go to school dances and all that. But, they have the ability to really ramp it up when it is game time.”
Baker said following up an undefeated season is difficult, but the coach and his star players are trying to make sure that this season’s team isn’t chasing the past.
“We all want to go back-to-back of course,” Chase Daniel said. “But I think the biggest thing for all of us is being together, bonding together and getting back to where we were a season ago from that angle is important. We might not get to the same level that last year’s team was, but making sure we go out every game and compete with the same energy as last year is the goal.”
