Camden High hires former star player to lead boys basketball team, replacing Ron McKie
Camden is turning to one of its own to lead its basketball program.
Former Bulldog Sterling Council was announced as the school’s new boys basketball coach on Tuesday night. Council replaces Ron McKie, who retired earlier this month. McKie coached Council as a player and led Camden to the 2009 state championship and four region titles.
“Coach McKie gave me all the confidence of the world and had a big impact on my career,” Council told The State. “It is home and there is a lot of sense of pride about being a Bulldog. I told myself if I were to coach at the high school level I didn’t want to coach anywhere else but Camden High. It is only right that I have the chance to take over this program.”
Council, a 2008 Camden graduate, was a two-time all-state selection for the Bulldogs and the Class 3A Player of the Year as a senior. He also was picked for the North Carolina/South Carolina All-Star game.
After high school, Council went on to play at USC Aiken where he was a Peach Belt All-Conference selection as a senior. He has been a Bulldogs assistant on and off for seven years and also was director of basketball operations in 2020 for a professional team in South Korea.
Camden is coming off a 6-10 season and missed the postseason this year. But Council hopes to turn the basketball around to get it back with the school’s other sports including girls basketball and football. The girls team played in the state championship this year and football team has made two straight state title appearances.
“We have a lot of talent and diamonds in the rough,” Council said. “We got the No. 1 player in country in girls (Joyce Edwards Class of 2024) and top 20 in football (Xzavier McLeod Class of 2023). I think the boys basketball program is the only thing that is lacking. I want to bring that exposure and that culture all the way from our rec program though high school. We do have talent, so you don’t have to leave home to be successful.”
One of those players who left was GG Jackson, who attended school in Camden up until end of eighth grade before transferring to Ridge View. Jackson is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2023 and could be close to narrowing down his college choice..
Council knows it is a long shot, but he has reached out to Jackson’s family about playing his senior season at Camden. Ridge View also is in the midst of a coaching change with Yerrick Stoneman leaving for Oak Hill Academy. Some think Jackson could end up at Oak Hill.
Camden is one of five Midlands schools with basketball openings this season.
Midlands basketball coaching changes
School — Former Coach — New Coach
Camden boys — Ron McKie — Sterling Council
Cardinal Newman girls — Asia Dozier — TBA
Columbia boys — Casey Geter — TBA
Northside Christian boys — Jason Harman — TBA
Ridge View boys — Yerrick Stoneman — TBA
This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 9:12 PM.
