Gray Collegiate’s Levi Ball Photos by Mike Maddock
In March, Gray Collegiate welcomed back Dion Bethea to coach the boys basketball program after serving as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern University.
“My family is so important to me,” Bethea said at the March press conference. “I do consider Gray as family. Didn’t know I would have this opportunity. Thought I would come back to Columbia, maybe sit out a year, and get myself together to figure out what I wanted to do. There were a lot of conversations with my wife. There were a lot of conversations with my mom as well and close friends in my inner circle. When the opportunity did present itself, there is no place like home. This place has always been special. The championships and stuff are really good, but it’s always been about the kids here. It’s about the kids, the staff, and what we can build here together. This place is truly home. I’m excited to be back.”
His return solidifies the War Eagles’ place among 4A state championship contenders. When Bethea left Gray in 2024, he had just guided the War Eagles to their sixth state championship under his leadership. The difference for Bethea was those championships were won in the 2A classification. He steps into his second stint with Gray as a coach of a 4A program.
“I’m just so excited about this year,” Bethea said. “4A is going to be a challenge. There are a lot of great 4A teams. I think we are in the best region in 4A. We have some work to do. Nobody is going to give us anything. We have to earn everything.”
As Bethea begins his second run with the War Eagles, he brings a year of collegiate experience with him.
“Being away for a year, being at Georgia Southern, the college game, being under Charlie Henry, it taught me a lot,” Bethea said. “I brought a lot of great information back with me. We are implementing it. I think it helps us more than anything else. I was a pretty good coach before I left, but I think I’m an even better coach now.”
There is no shortage of talent for Bethea to work with. Levi Ball just signed his National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for Kennesaw State University.
“He’s an incredible player,” Bethea said. “He’s a hard worker. He’s an incredible teammate. He wants to do well. I’m a firm believer in sending out our seniors the right way. I think he’s going to open up even more eyes this year being one of the best players in the state.”
Des Harrington and Cardinal Newman transfer Lu Echevarria will also play a big roll in Gray’s success.
The War Eagles will have no shortage of challengers in Region 4-4A with North Augusta, Brookland-Cayce, and Midland Valley. Before Gray even gets to that part of the schedule, it will be well tested. The War Eagles started the season with a 75-51 loss to defending
5A Division 1 state champion Ridge View.
Gray will also face Houston (TN), St. Michael’s (TX), Tullhoma (TN), Newton
(Ga), and Butler (Ga.) before getting into the meat of the region schedule.
It all sets up for another run at a state championship for the War Eagles.
“We just have to be disciplined,” Bethea said. “We have to stick together on the offensive and defensive sides. We have to make sure we stay together.”
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