Jon Kornegay has been named the new head varsity girls’ basketball coach at North Duplin.
CALYPSO — Home is where the heart is.
For Jon Kornegay, it’s a full-circle moment, too.
The former two-sport athlete didn’t have aspirations to coach, moved away from home and entered the medical profession. More than two decades later, he’s delved – again – into his favorite passion.
Kornegay will direct the North Duplin varsity girls’ basketball program this winter. He succeeds John Oliver, who retired in mid-February due to health concerns.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time here as a student-athlete and it had a big impact on my life,” Kornegay said. “I have daughters that now go to elementary school, so I’ve stayed really engaged out here with the coaches and athletic department. I’ve really loved the game my entire life [and] thought if it ever worked out, I would love to be more involved in the athletic department and potentially coach out here.
“I never knew in my personal family life if it would ever work out. Kind of everything fell into place at the right time, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Positive vibes and good energy surround the program at the moment.
Oliver’s last three teams combined to win 64 games and log an impressive 35-1 record at home. The 2022 and 2023 claimed both the Carolina 1A regular-season and tournament championships.
The 2024 squad claimed the tournament crown.
All three teams advanced to the NC High School Athletic Association playoffs, which included an eastern semifinal-round appearance in 2023.
“Coach Oliver left it in a good spot [and] build off some of the success that he’s had the last three years,” Kornegay said. “Hopefully, we can continue to build the program.”
Two starters and one key reserve graduated a year ago.
Kornegay inherits a team that includes three returning starters – 1,000-point scorer Addy Higginbotham, center Tateyawna Faison and Lilly Fulghum. Also slated to return are role-playing reserves Eva Quintanilla, Abigeal Norris Brown and Aby Spence.
Newcomers from the middle school team that finished 10-2 are expected to contend for court time.
“[In summer workouts], they’ve been engaged, had good attitudes, hard working and open to learning,” Kornegay said. “It’s a good mix [of players]. Obviously, we lost some seniors, some leadership and some point production. That’s going to be difficult to replace.
“The underclassmen … hope we can develop them individually, improve their basketball IQ, fundamentals … knowledge of the game. Me, as a coach, I have to make adjustments and try to put our players in a position to succeed.”
North Duplin has filed a 33-3 worksheet against Carolina 1A opposition in regular-season and tournament play during the past three seasons.
Cautious and optimistic, Kornegay knows the Rebels wear a target.
The new coach says he would undoubtedly like to see the program blossom and reach its full potential, but knows there is more to the game than the final scoreboard. Kornegay adds — he wants to teach accountability, life principles, the value of hard work and have a positive impact on the players.
“There’s a lot of things we still have to work on, but I’ve already seen some improvements on a lot of things throughout the summer,” Kornegay said.
You can reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or by phone at 919-709-9257.
