Summer work begins for Mavericks hoops

June 10, 2026 by Ken Lay

The 2026-27 high school basketball season won’t officially tip off until November, but late spring and early summer are anything but a time to rest for local teams and student-athletes.

The days are hot, the stands are far from full, and there are no cheerleaders or pep bands.

Still, area teams are putting in long hours, while many multi-sport athletes balance practices and competitions across several sports.

At Anderson County High School, boys basketball Coach Jordan Jeffers and the Mavericks are already laying the groundwork for the coming season.

Anderson County will continue its summer schedule through June 19 as the team establishes its identity.

“We’re going to be a different team than we were last year,” said Jeffers, who will begin his fifth season as the Mavericks’ head coach. “Last year, we were a young team, and now we’re an old team.

“We will use this time to figure out what kind of team that we want to be. The kids are working hard and they’re putting in the effort. I like this team. I really do.”

Although classes are out for the summer, Anderson County’s campus remains active. Many Mavericks compete in multiple sports, making summer schedules a challenge.

“We’re trying to get some game experience, and the biggest thing is just trying to get everybody together,” Jeffers said. “You just have so much going on.

“You have basketball. You have football and you have baseball. Summer is hard.”

The Mavericks have stayed busy since the school year ended.

Anderson County recently competed in a team camp at Maryville College and also played several games closer to home.

Jeffers has intentionally sought out strong competition early in the summer.

“You want to try to see some quality opponents,” he said. “We’ve played Bearden, Alcoa and Grace (Christian Academy).

“We played Fulton and we lost by two.”

While development remains the primary goal during the summer months, winning still matters.

“Summer is different,” Jeffers said. “Summer ball is sometimes like bad AAU ball.

“You play with a running clock, and on free throws, you have two to make one and one-and-ones are automatic. But you always want to win. Good teams find ways to win.”





Tony Cox | The Courier News

Anderson County’s Colton Lawson attacks the lane during the Mavericks’ summer basketball matchup against Wartburg Central on Friday night.