Sweet 16 Countdown: KC and Chambers’ sunshine band are back for another run at the title
Editor’s Note: The Observer is taking a look at the 16 teams that are ranked in the preseason Sweet 16 prep football poll, released in random order. The true order of the teams will be revealed in August.
If Chambers High had a motto this year, it could be, “No Hollywood, no problem.”
Despite reaching four straight state championship games and returning 14 starters, the Cougars players feel like there are many people in the N.C high school football universe who don’t give them much of a chance at a fifth straight championship appearance.
In the spring, dynamic running back Daylan “Hollywood” Smothers transferred to West Charlotte, and just like that, the Cougars had lost their top player, a four-star national recruit committed to Oklahoma. Also in the spring, coach Glenwood Ferebee left the school, eventually landing a job at Virginia Tech.
“But I feel like we’re still the same team,” said the Cougars’ new de-facto star, senior wide receiver KC Concepcion. “(Smothers) obviously had a big role on our team, but now it’ll spread out evenly through everybody else. Having him this year would’ve been a major benefit, but we have to work it out either way.”
And make no mistake, Chambers — which returns four all-conference players — still has plenty of talent.
Concepcion, at 5-11, 185-pounds, was first-team all-state last season and 247Sports ranks him among the top 25 recruits in North Carolina. He plans to announce his college decision next month, likely choosing between North Carolina and N.C. State.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Chambers first-year coach Brandon Wiggins said. “He’s very explosive. And the one thing I like most about KC, especially studying him on film, is he makes plays when it counts. That’s very rare for a lot of people, having that clutch (gene) like (Michael) Jordan or (having Kobe Bryant’s) Mamba Mentality. That ‘I want the ball in my hands when it counts.’
“That’s what I love most about him, and he’s a great kid.”
All-conference quarterback Anshon “Bubba” Camp thinks everybody should have a receiver like his.
“Man, it’s wonderful to have a One, to have an Uno like that to throw to,” Camp said. “He’s fast. He’s physical. He’s big. Everything.”
Like his teammates, Camp can’t wait to get the season started.
The offseason has been long, with near daily reminders of a 14-2 upset loss to Raleigh’s Cardinal Gibbons in the 2021 state championship game. Then, there’s the player and coach that aren’t coming back.
Camp said his teammates are using all of that in a positive way to get ready for what they believe is a season that will surprise a lot of people.
“We’re still Chambers,” he said. “We’re still....tough. We’re still them boys. I love the doubt. It makes me work harder to prove everybody wrong.”
Wiggins, the first-year coach, said he’s loving what’s seen so far from his experienced group. He said they’ve come to practice every day with a focus, and that he’s got four or five guys who could carry the ball at running back.
“I never coached Hollywood,” Wiggins said. “From what I’ve seen the guys have done a good job of moving on and playing. I’ll miss (Smothers) but we have to move on. I like what I see, and if we can keep guys fresh and injury free, it can be a good year.
“We do have a lot of talent to make it to the state championship, but at the same time, it doesn’t mean a hill of beans if you lose in the first round.”
Concepcion doesn’t plan for any type of early round exit. In fact, in what he hopes is a year of redemption, imagined or not, Chambers’ star feels he’s ready -- and so do his teammates.
“I don’t know why people are sleeping on us,” he said. “We’ve been to the state final like every year. We’ll just show them, though. When the pads come on, we’ll see who’ll be talking.”
Inside Look: Chambers High
Head Coach: Brandon Wiggins (0-0, 1st year)
2021 Record: 0-16 (team finished 14-2 but had to forfeit games due to an ineligible player)
Returning lettermen: 35
Returning starters: 14
Key Returnees: WR KC Concepcion, Sr.; LB Jordan Thompson, Sr.; QB/ATH Anshon Camp, Sr.; DE Jordan Jackson-Bass, Sr.; DB TJ McGill, Sr.; DT Lemott Houston, Sr.; WR Armon Wright, Jr.; WR Zion Booker, Sr.; WR Sean Walker, Sr.; DB Rondell Carter, Jr.; OL Bryce Lofton, Sr.; OL Isaiah Ferguson, Sr.
Fresh Faces: Elijah Baskins; Dontrae Henderson
This story was originally published July 31, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
