Austin Peay men's basketball and first-year head coach Corey Gipson wrapped up the first 20-hour practice week, and the energy coming from the team has never been higher.

When I sat down to begin writing this, I tried to find the perfect word to describe the team, and the first one that always came to mind is brotherhood – as Gipson regularly uses it before, during, and after practice, in addition to his own description of the team.

To those that will watch the Govs this season, this team is full of 13 student-athletes hailing from eight schools, with 12 of the 13 players being newcomers, but the chemistry is easily recognized throughout each practice. 

Six of those new additions – DeMarcus Sharp, Isaac Haney, Ja'Monta Black, Harrison Black, Hansel Enmanuel, and Jordan Wilmore – come to Clarksville from Northwestern State, while others come from various levels of basketball such as Iona, Christian Brothers, The Skills Factory Prep (high school), and more. Players such as Sharp, Black, and Haney also played together at Missouri State where Gipson was the associate head coach 2015-22, while Haney and Anton Brookshire also played together during their prep career at Kickapoo High School. 

At the end of the day, the chemistry during practice makes this team fun to watch. Sure, seeing them hit deep threes, running set plays to T, and a handful of other things is enjoyable, but seeing them vibe together between drills and be on the same wavelength without saying a word, is one of the biggest things that shows this team is capable of winning a lot of games.

Now, for a continued list of my takeaways through the opening week of official practices:

• Corey Gipson's return to Clarksville has brought the community back together. From former head coach Dave Loos to Tennessee State Senator Bill Powers – who had a special presentation for Coach Gipson, Wednesday, – APSU alum and 247Sports correspondent Carl Reed Jr., numerous members of the Clarksville-Montgomery County community, and more, this program has shown that they are Clarksville's Hometown Basketball Team.
• Daniel Loos. A lot of fans will know Loos as Austin Peay and Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame coach Dave Loos' grandson and a standout at local Clarksville Academy, but he was easily one of the most impressive players during this week's practices. At 6-6, he's a dominant presence in the paint, shows he's a strong defender downlow and around the perimeter, and seems to improve each day.
• On the topic of forwards, Sai Witt is another player I think will make some big plays for the red and white this season. He's 6-8, another player that is a strong presence in the paint on both ends of the court, and could potentially be a starter at the four or five come season.
• Dezi Jones is a veteran guard that was a big addition to the Govs' roster over the offseason. He played his last two seasons at Quinnipiac where he averaged 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He can hit the acrobatic layups, push the tempo in transition, and possess a lethal long-range shot – shooting over 41 percent from beyond the arc on 60 made threes last season. He's likely a day-one starter and is primed to make a big impact across the board in '23-24.
• While numerous players are new to Austin Peay, they aren't new to college basketball. Of the 13 players, 10 are upperclassmen and it shows in the drills. Guys like DeMarcus Sharp and Ja'Monta Black are the vocal leaders, coaching players up after plays, and at times pulling them aside between drills.
• Jordan Wilmore is big. Listed at 7-3, 353 pounds, he's the biggest player in program history, surpassing the previous record holder of 7-2 Eddie Perdue (1995-00). He's more agile than one could believe for his frame, helping to make him even more of a nightmare for opposing teams on both ends of the paint.
• Hansel Enmanuel is a slasher. He's had clips posted all around SportsCenter since his high school days at Life Christian Academy. He's had made numerous impressive dunks in the last couple weeks and could see plenty of minutes this season, as he started the final five games of the regular and postseason at Northwestern State a season ago.
• Enmanuel also became the third player in program history - joining Fly Williams (1973) and Bubba Wells (1996) - to be featured in Sports Illustrated, as SI reporter Kevin Sweeney wrote an insert in this month's issue titled, 'More Than What's Missing.'