Striving to make Hopewell better

In the last few years, Hopewell coach Eric Davis and his players have attracted a lot of local attention by creating an up-and-coming basketball powerhouse.

But someone who does a lot for the program and doesn't get the recognition he deserves is assistant coach Justin Batts.

"Everything he does is behind the scenes - he doesn't do anything for the glory," said Davis. "If you don't surround yourself with good people, you aren't going to be very successful."

Batts' days are long. He arrives at Hopewell at about 6 a.m. every day and doesn't get home until after 11 p.m. on game nights.

"Even on the short days you're talking about working 13 hours, and you're basically in one place - that's 13 hours not leaving this building," said Batts, who teaches physical education.

"Other than the four-and-a-half hours I'm in class most of that time is devoted to Hopewell basketball," he said.

In addition to being responsible for statistics and video for the team, Batts coaches the players defensively in practice.

Batts is also in charge of doing a little bit of everything, from setting up the gym after school for home games to doing laundry for the team. He's had that willingness to help out since high school - when he played for Davis.

"I remember telling him as a senior that my main goal here is to make Hopewell basketball better - to make us successful," the 25-year-old said. "It doesn't matter how dirty the job is."

Davis said that being a former player allows Batts to relate and sometimes even translate what he's trying to teach his players. Davis said his team enjoys being around Batts.

"They really respect him, but he can laugh and joke with them and kind of break that ice," said Davis.

Davis first met Batts when he played for him in the junior varsity team his freshman year at North Mecklenburg High.

After taking two years off of basketball and transferring to Hopewell on the choice plan to be part of the school's first graduating class, Batts decided to play the sport again - in large part because of Davis.

Davis said that as player Batts was a vocal leader from the bench. On the court, the 5-foot-8 guard knew exactly what his team needed and could run the offense accordingly.

"We say all the time that a point guard has to be an extension of the coach and that's what he was," said Davis.

He added that Batts was a solid player who didn't score the basketball much and didn't get much playing time. But Batts, who said he scored maybe 13 points that season, didn't mind.

"If you look at any kind of stat I don't know if you would say I was an impact guy," he said. "Even now you don't see any stat about what I do, but I still feel like I'm making a difference and that's the same way I felt back then."

Batts has been at Hopewell since 2007 when he landed a teaching job after graduating from UNC Wilmington. In addition to helping out with basketball, he's also an assistant coach for the varsity volleyball team and heads up its J.V. squad.

Batts said he enjoys coaching because he gets to see his players improve - and grow up - right in front of him. But his favorite part is the interaction he gets to have with them inside the locker room.

"You have those interactions with people you really care about," he said. "It's nice to almost be a part of a second family."

Although Batts isn't sure about what he'll be doing in five years, one of his many aspirations is to become a head coach. He said coaching under Davis has allowed him to get closer to that dream.

"There's no better place than here to try to get that - to try to learn and try to get to that level," said Batts.

The Davidson native said that he's learned a key lesson by coaching alongside - and playing for - Davis.

"You can take those things you learn on the basketball court and from being a part of the team and use them in life," he said. "These kids that have been successful with Hopewell basketball can use this success and use it to have a positive influence on their lives."

Batts is more than happy to be part of the Hopewell basketball team, which is 68-8 during his time as an assistant, and also to still be learning from his mentor.

"I've been able to be a part of this with somebody who means a lot to me," said Batts. "It's great to be a part of something that's growing into a tradition."