2025-26 Boys Basketball Preview: Comets get familiar 'Webb' site back

West Carter played without two important parts of its program last year.

Star guard and scoring leader Nathan Webb tore his ACL during a preseason exhibition and missed his entire junior campaign. Dad and coach, Jeremy, decided to step away from the program to help with the rehab process.

Both have returned and bring back a renewed energy and a different outlook.

“If you’re a coach and you’re around long enough, you’re gonna have things like that take place,” Jeremy Webb said. “You don’t get a full appreciation for it until you go through it in your family. With any of your players, you worry about them, and you call and check on them, but when you see it every day, what kids have to go through every day to get back on the court, it definitely changes your perspective. I have a bigger appreciation for what they go through.”

Coach Webb said Nathan has been a practice every day during the preseason. He and his father are excited to get back on the court. He was where he needed to be last year, but his excitement level for a new season has increased.

“I had a year off and I feel it’s reenergized me,” Jeremy Webb said. “I’ve been doing it for a long time. Last year was going to be my 19th before I had to take a step back. It’s not like I was completely removed from the program. I went to some practices and I watched all the games, but I was mentally away from it. I think about how my coaching philosophy has changed over the years.

“I was a guy that didn’t want to even cancel practices, even when there was 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground,” he continued. “Some of the guys around our program would always give me a hard time. COVID made us accept things. I just look at everything a bit differently. It’s great to get back out with the guys this summer and fall has been very enjoyable.”

Without their leader on the court, the other Comets grew and expanded their games in his absence. It will make the team even stronger with Webb’s return.

Brody Boggs drew mention from his coach. He’s the leading returning scorer, netting nearly 10 points and grabbing 5.2 rebounds a game last year. Wade Lawson also stepped up his game, adding eight points a night. Both will have bigger roles this year.

“Brody was a guy who went into last year and had to become more of a scorer than what he was in previous years,” Webb said. “He took a huge step forward last year. We have high expectations for him on both ends of the court. Wade Lawson grew in his role last year and was the sole ball handler on the team.”

Webb also expects a lot out of his stellar sophomore class that includes Christian Clark, Peyton Nichols and Eian Porter. They gained experience and Webb said he has “good size with that group.” Tabor Tackett, Jamison Wagoner and Nathan Hale could also see important minutes.

The Comets won six games last season but started to come together near the end, doubling their win total in the final two weeks of the season.

“It took some time for the guys to come together after losing somebody like Nathan,” Jeremy Webb said. “They had to hear a different voice for the first time in a long time. Tanner (Glancy) did a really good job with them. I guess that’s why you saw some momentum and some wins take place late in the season.”