It was a milestone Friday night for Harrells Christian Academy. The Crusaders rolled past Wayne Country Day, 68-41, to capture the CPIC Conference Tournament Championship in their first season in the league. Earlier that same day, senior point guard J’Kaeshi Brunson signed to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Mount Olive, where he will join teammate Dashaun McKoy at the next level.
For head coach Clayton Hall, the title marked both accomplishment and motivation.
“It feels amazing,” Hall shared. “We defeated some really good teams. For our first time in this new conference, to win the tournament championship, we’re really happy about that. We took the hard road and played on back-to-back nights. That’s pretty special for our program.”
The Crusaders established control early against Wayne Country Day and never relinquished it, turning defensive pressure and balanced scoring into a decisive 27-point victory.
But as Hall later emphasized, the celebration was short-lived.
“We always want to win the conference, and then we move our goal to winning the conference tournament,” he explained. “We accomplished winning the conference tournament, and now our goal is to win a state championship. We moved on from it. That was our first practice of the postseason, and that’s our next goal and what we’re focused on.”
A senior standard
The championship run also underscored the impact of a senior class that has helped elevate the program’s expectations.
“Oh yeah, absolutely, 100 percent,” Hall stated when asked if this group set the example for those coming up behind them. “They set the example. Not just a good example — they set the example of what it takes and how an athlete should conduct himself. The standard they created is the example.”
Few seniors embody that journey more than Brunson.
Hall first coached him as an eighth-grader.
“He started for me as an eighth-grader five years ago, and we went 5-20 that season,” Hall reflected. “To see the progress he’s made — from all the setbacks — his 10th grade year, he tore his ACL and didn’t get to play. He has pushed himself. The things he’s been able to do are phenomenal.”
What once was a young guard learning the game has developed into what Hall described as one of the elite defenders he has coached in nearly two decades.
“He’s gone from a kid who could just dribble and pass to now one of the more elite defenders I’ve ever coached in 18 years,” Hall added. “He held Kobe Edwards to five points Thursday night. He held the other team’s best scorer to eight points on Friday. His basketball knowledge and growth over five years is overwhelming. I can’t state enough how much he’s improved and what he means to this team.”
Brunson’s next chapter
For Brunson, Friday’s signing ceremony was the culmination of perseverance.
“It feels great,” Brunson said of becoming a Spartan. “Having that injury, it really opened my eyes. Everything changed. I’m just grateful I was able to recover and get back.”
He won’t be making the transition alone. McKoy, his longtime teammate, will join him at Mount Olive.
“It means a lot,” Brunson expressed. “To go to the next level with my teammate I’ve been playing with almost my whole life — it’s going to be good having him with me.”
As a senior point guard, Brunson has embraced leadership responsibilities on and off the floor.
“As a point guard, you gotta be a leader,” he noted. “You gotta get the team right. I feel like that plays a big part in everything.”
When asked what the Spartans can expect, Brunson didn’t hesitate.
“Just hard work, hard work, and hard work,” he replied. “I’m undersized, so I know it’s going to take a lot of gym time to make up for that. I’m just ready to get it started.”
He also made sure to thank those who helped him reach this point.
“My family, my coaches — God, for sure, and the University of Mt. Olive,” Brunson added.
Job’s not finished
The Crusaders’ conference title is a defining moment in the program’s first season in the CPIC, but inside the locker room, the focus has already shifted.
With a veteran group that has endured rebuilding seasons, injuries, and growth, Harrells Christian Academy now turns its attention toward a state championship pursuit.
For Hall and his seniors, the message is clear: the standard has been set — and the job is not finished.