Madison’s Terrell has eyes on prize

MADISON — Logan Terrell’s eyes are the key. The Madison County junior doesn’t take them off the ball ever — particularly on the offensive end.

He’s constantly watching, waiting, positioning himself for his next chance to haul in an offensive board and quickly elevate for a stickback.

“He never takes his eyes off the ball when it’s in the air and he keeps moving,” said Madison coach Tim Taylor. “That’s natural, I can’t take any credit for that. He’s been doing that before I ever got here.”

In nearly every sport, children are told to keep their eye on the ball, but apparently that lesson stuck with Terrell a little more than it did with the other kids. Terrell’s stepfather, Clyde Kilby, who is largely responsible for getting Terrell involved in athletics, passed down that pearl of wisdom to the junior when he first started playing basketball.

“He said wherever the ball goes, you go,” Terrell said. “I’d just follow the ball.”

Today, he is still following the ball, to the tune of 16.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, good enough to lead the Mountaineers’ potent lineup.

He’s also a key reason Madison is a perfect 21-0 after an unbeaten regular season.

The Mountaineers will try to keep that streak going Wednesday night in the Bull Run District semifinals against Manassas Park.

Since he checks in at 6-foot-2, it’s not immediately clear that Terrell should be dominating underneath, even at the Group A level.

One of the Mountaineers’ guards, Jerel Carter, has a good two inches on him. Frontline-mate David Falk — who Taylor says has a great defensive rebounding mentality and hauls in more than eight boards a game to form the other half of the Mountaineers’ dynamic rebounding duo — has four inches on his classmate.

But Terrell’s leaping ability separates him from the rest of the pack. 

“I think the thing he does better than most people is use his legs,” Taylor said. “He stays wide when he posts up, he creates a lot of space and he elevates extremely quickly — he can jump over guys that are 6-foot-7, 6-foot-8 and get his shot off.”

That’s why every time Terrell lines up against a player with a big height advantage over him, he knows they’re in for a bit of a surprise.

“When I’m posting them up and they’re like four

inches taller than me, they’re like ‘what? I’m going to eat this dude up,” Terrell said. “But I can’t let them do that — I like the challenge.”

Terrell possesses a deft touch around the basket, a skill augmented by his ability to leap over those taller defenders and create his own shot. Matt Garr, Madison’s 6-foot-3 forward, has pointed out that Terrell’s turnaround jumper on the low block is nearly impossible to stop.

The junior also doesn’t shy away from contact, which comes as little surprise since he doubles as a bruising fullback for Madison. He earned first team all-Central Virginia honors as he gained nearly 1,000 yards while averaging 6.7 yards per carry last year.

And now, he’s beginning to learn how to put the ball on the floor and make things happen that way.

“Last year — it was like ‘no, we don’t want to do this,” Taylor said. “This year, yes. Against Page [back in January] he took the ball and beat all nine of them down the floor, even our guys. He can handle it now and he can pass it. It’s still a work in progress, but he’s getting to a point where he can play outside.”

Terrell’s drive and determination are what make that kind of development possible. Several of his teammates pointed to Terrell’s heart as the source of his consistent performance this year.

“He never wants to come out of a drill,” Taylor said. “He has an outstanding heart.”

That total package makes Terrell, even at 6-foot-2, a multi-pronged threat in the paint — no matter how opposing big men size him up.

“It’s all about your mindset — knowing no one can beat you and just going with it,” Terrell said. “I’ve got good players around me, so it’s really not me doing all these things, they’re really helping me make the plays.”

And he’ll keep making those plays — as long as he continues to keep his eye on the ball.