Prep basketball at a glance | Team previews

KENT-MERIDIAN

• Coach: James Olive, first year

• Last year’s record: 3-5 in the South Puget Sound League Northeast 4A, 10-9 overall

• Returning starters: Romaine Jackson, senior; Jalani Bell sr.; Mahlik Hall sophomore; Markel Banks, junior

• Top newcomers: Tre’Jordan Fuentas-Williams, soph.; Kevin Ford, jr.

• Strengths: Will rely on a strong backcourt with Jackson, Bell and Hall and consistent shooting from Banks. “Our defense will be the key to our success,” Olive said. “We will have to rely on pressure and quickness.”

• Weaknesses: Lack of size in the front court. Tallest player is senior Joshua Campbell, 6-foot-3.

• Outlook: “Should be a very competitive team. What we lack in size we will make up in aggressiveness, determination and pride,” Olive said.

KENTRIDGE

• Coach: Dave Jamison, 16th year, record at KR: 246-130, career record: 291-159.

• Last year’s record: 10-3, second place SPSL 4A NE; 19-7 overall, fifth place West Central District III 4A, 4A state regional appearance

• Returning starters: Joran Ticeson, sr. 6-7, forward; Elijah Ticeson, sr., 6-2, guard; Ethan Walker, sr., 6-4, forward; AJ Chappell, jr., 5-6, point guard

• Top newcomers: Tanner Conner, sr., 6-4, forward; Dawson Duff, sr., 6-3, forward; Juwuan Brown-Harris, sr., 5-10, guard; Matt McVicker, jr., 5-9, guard; Will Johnson, soph., 6-0, guard; Jett Briceno, freshman, 6-4, forward

• Strengths: Experience and depth inside.

• Weaknesses: Guard play, toughness and leadership.

KENTWOOD

• Coach: Blake Solomon, fourth year

• Last year’s record: 12-1, first place SPSL 4A NE; 24-5, sixth place in 4A state

• Returning players: Darius LuBom, jr.; Rayvaughn Bolton, jr.; Davonte Sanchez, sr.; Connor Benson, sr.; Sam Kramer, sr.

• Top newcomers: Beau Roggenbach, jr.; Koby Huerta, jr.; Jared Goldwire, sr.

• Outlook: “We took sixth place in state last year and we return two starters. We also return key reserves as well as multiple newcomers who will produce at a high level. We play a tough non-league schedule early that will prepare us for league and playoffs later in the season. If this group can continue to get better each day and not shortcut the process, we will have a chance to accomplish even more than we did last season. We should vie for league and district titles,” Solomon said.

• Strengths: “Strengths are in our experience. We have four guys who played heavily in our state tournament run. We return our backcourt from a season ago. We are an athletic group who has a lot skill. We will rely on unselfish offense and are ability to full court press and play half court pressure defense. We share the ball extremely well and defend hard,” Solomon said.

• Weaknesses: “We lost the reigning MVP of our league as well as our other starting front court players. We will need to prove that we can play physical down low and rebound at a high rate. If we can continue to win the rebound battle like we did a lot last season, we could have a very successful year,” Solomon said. 

KENTLAKE

• Coach: Godfrey Drake, fourth year

• Last year’s record: 2-6, fourth place SPSL 4A NE; 15-11 overall

• Returning starters: Kevin Baker, sr.; Julion Mackey, sr.; Larry Alar, jr.; Austin McBryde, sr.; Trey Helgeson, sr.

• Top newcomers: Justin Olson, sr.; Michael Alar, fresh.; Jarese Eddie, fresh.; Garrett Eversole, fresh.

• Strengths: “Julion Mackey and Kevin Baker are matchup nightmares for other teams. Larry Alar and Austin McBryde form as tough a backcourt as you will find in high school basketball. We also play pressure defense for four quarters and that’s our identity,” Drake said.

• Weaknesses: “Leadership is our weakness. We have guys learning to be leaders on the fly but I believe that they will figure it out,” Drake said.

• Outlook: “We should be very solid defensively and our tempo should make games very exciting for our fans. Our work ethic and attention to detail will determine if we make a playoff appearance for the second year in a row. Every team should be chasing a state championship and we are definitely a team with those championship aspirations,” Drake said.

– Heidi Sanders