GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. – On Friday morning, head coach Stu Stuedeman and the Cullman Bearcats wrapped up their summer games with a trip to Guntersville’s Supreme Courts.
Coming off another incredible season that saw their chaotic identity take them all the way to another State Championship game, the Bearcats’ starting five is full of new faces after the graduation of Sam Dorough, Owen Graves and Gray Hopper.
Slotting in as a primary ball handler, ninth grader Everett Swindall looked like a natural. After playing primarily as a spot-up shooter off the bench as an eighth grader, he he handled running the offense more than well, scoring 13 points (stats are unofficial) and feeding a Cullman offense that outscored Thompson 58-37.
“Swindall’s a ninth grader, and he’s a real player. His first week he struggled, but he has a real chance to be a great player for us for the next four years, and he was already a great player for us last year. I’m pleased that we have young players out there that are gonna be here for three to four years that are going to have to step up their role already, and they’re getting better and better each week,” Stuedeman said.
The Bearcats largest returning piece (literally and figuratively) is Brooks Loftin who, as the number one option and leader for Cullman, will see an expanded role in 2026-27.
“He’s such a fun, loving person that we struggle with him getting that killer mentality in games, especially in the summer, but he’s also changed positions. He’s handling the ball on the perimeter and has just made incredible progress, so if he keeps making the progress he’s made in 2-3 weeks into the fall, he’s gonna be nasty,” Loftin’s head coach said.
In the win today, the 6-7 forward showed all of the post dominance fans saw last season, but Loftin’s growth as a ball handler was evident. Additionally, while he was already an above-average outside shooter for a big man as a sophomore, Loftin sunk three from beyond the arc today on the way to putting up 20 points.
Surrounding Loftin and Swindall is an exciting supporting cast including Emory Bonds, who heads into his senior year as one of the Bearcats’ top three point shooters. Guard John Luke Witcher will also see more time, with Stuedeman noting the growth but still wanting to expand his offensive game.
“Our expectations are the same every year. We want to be the best version of ourselves at the end of the year, playing the best basketball that we can. It’s been a grind of a June just because we have a lot of new faces and a lot of people playing different positions, and this isn’t the system to just be learning on the fly,” Stuedeman said on his team’s progress. He added, “I’m pleased with where we finished. If you would’ve gotten me the first week, I don’t know if you would’ve gotten a good comment, But I’m pleased with where we finished.”
