As Friday nights on the gridiron give way to weekend tournaments on the court, the boys basketball teams of southern Denton County are preparing for another successful season on the hardwood.
The 2023-24 campaign saw three local teams earn trips to the postseason and expectations are high again this year.
Argyle finished 28-8 overall last season, with a 9-5 mark in district competition.
The Eagles finished third in District 7-5A and defeated Mansfield Timberview by a score of 58-51 in the bi-district round before losing to Brewer at area.
Coach Russell Perkins said the return of Kash Polk (6’9″ senior) will give the Eagles a boost, but added that team chemistry is an area his players will need to focus.
“Polk is coming off of a major knee injury that ended his season in December,” Perkins said. “If we can get and stay healthy, we have lots of experience and depth. We have 10 seniors, but we also have a good mixture of underclassmen ready to step into positive roles.
“It will take us a while to develop our cohesiveness because of our lack of court time together this summer and fall due to injuries and unforeseen circumstances.”
Other players to watch this season for the Eagles include Francis Chukwudebelu, Gerald Burris-Llamas, Ryder Smithers, Jonathan Lungeni, Karan Mattu, Tayson Stosich, Anderson Payne and Conrad Filler.
Polk, Burris-Llamas, Smithers, Lungeni and Mattu are all returning starters from last year’s team.
“Our experience should help us tremendously, but we are in a very, very tough district that will mean very competitive games every night,” Perkins said. “We have tried to plan a very difficult non-district schedule to prepare us for our tough district competition. If we can get some court time together, we have a chance to be competitive in our district.”
Up 377 at Liberty Christian, the Warriors are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2023-24 campaign where they finished 10-23 overall with a 1-7 mark in district.
Coach Preston Nadolski said he is optimistic about what the 2024-25 season holds in store.
“We are returning six varsity players, so we’re looking for a big improvement from last season,” Nadolski said. “We moved up to TAPPS 6A from 5A so competition will be improved as well.”
Players to watch for the Warriors this season include the three returning starters Max Hinds, Easton Hupp and Brandon Lohmann.
Nadolski said he believes his team will have something to play for come February.
“We will be competing for a playoff spot, with three spots available, with the experience of our team and talent we have coming back,” Nadolski said.
Moving up to Denton ISD, Guyer is coming off a third-place finish in district and a trip to the playoffs in 2023-24.
The Wildcats went 25-10 overall last season with a 10-4 record in 5-6A competition.
Coach Grant Long said he will have a deep bench this coming season and is anxious to see what his team can do.
“With eight seniors, lots of depth, and a ton of experience, this is going to be an exciting year for the Wildcats,” Long said. “We have 10 returning varsity players off of a team that won 25 games last year, losing in the playoffs in overtime. With a preseason ranking at 20, the Wildcats will be competing against some of the best teams in the state and sometimes nation.”
The Wildcats return Jordan Lowery, Silas Rodriguez, Tyler Copes, Mason White, DJ Neal, Saivaughn Coleman, Joubran Bebe, DJ Majors, Noah Elam, Mason Geddes, and Brycen Nguyen, most of which have varsity experience from last year, as well as three returning starters.
Long said because of the volume of returning talent, expectations are high coming into the season.
“With this team, we expect to be competing for the district championship and make a deep run in the playoffs towards a state championship. We have a great combination of size and athleticism, with multiple future college players. There is a great chemistry with this team and a caring for each other.”
Over in Flower Mound, the Marcus boys finished 24-8 overall last season and played in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
The Marauders return three starters in Jayden Ramnanan, Luke Susko, and Nixxon Warren and coach Matthew Wright said his team is looking to pick up where it left off.
“The boys have been working really hard and we’ve had a good offseason,” Wright said. “These are all team-first guys who play hard and play together. We’re excited for the season to get here and thankful for the opportunity to represent our community.”
Another player to keep an eye on for the Marauders this season is senior guard Devan Robinson.
Marcus finished third in district last season with a record of 9-5 and Wright said he believes Marcus will compete for a playoff spot.
“We return four very important players from last year’s team who played a lot of minutes,” Wright said. “Some younger guys must step up and fill the holes left from last year’s seniors.”
For the Flower Mound boys basketball team, 2023-24 was a rough year, but with new head coach Justin Kauffman and a solid core of returning talent, the Jaguars are hoping to turn things around this season.
“We have had a tremendous summer and fall and look to continue that into the season,” Kauffman said. “I’m extremely proud of how hard the guys have worked and look forward to a successful season.”
Players to watch for the Jags include Caleb Massey, Brandon Stauty and Jackson Meche.
Kauffman said the recipe for success this season has two main ingredients.
“It will start with the defensive end along with being tough and physical,” Kauffman said. “If we can consistently do that night after night, we have a shot.”
For Coram Deo Academy, the Lions are looking to bounce back from a 10-19 season in 2023-24 in which the team finished sixth in district.
Coach Jamil Bailey said that based on what he has seen so far from his team, he is optimistic.
“As a team, we are developing our fundamental foundation in all aspects of the game of basketball,” Bailey said. “Our upperclassmen are taking the reigns and leading our team with accountability and constructive criticism. We are building great practice habits and approaching every day as one to get better.”
Players to watch for Coram Deo this season include Luke Manack, Isaiah Langat, Nathan Park, Malachi McDowell and Myles Allen.
Manack and Park are both returning starters.
Bailey said to make the postseason in 2024-25, it will take a couple of things.
“We will compete for a playoff spot by competing in every situation we are faced with,” Bailey said. “Our team will be prepared to battle physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally to win. We believe that we will make the best out of any circumstance we find ourselves in and apply our ‘MAGIS’ mentality not just to basketball but in our way of life.”
Over in Justin, Northwest finished 11-23 overall last season and coach Xzavier Gaines said that preparations for this season have revealed a bit of a mixed bag.
“We’re a very young and inexperienced team and we are steadily improving,” Gaines said.
The Texans should be led by Carter Berczik, Jay Harrington, Sabir Shema and Ivan Gutierrez this season, and Gaines said the objective at the moment is to progress.
“Our goal is just getting better every day and to compete each game,” Gaines said.
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