Nerves. Excitement. Passion.
First-year Kentwood High boys basketball coach Brian Davis is feeling it all these days.
Except, interestingly enough, pressure. Kentwood enters the season as the Class 4A defending state champs, and has finished either first or second in the South Puget Sound League North Division in three of the last four years.
Yet, pressure has not entered the mind of Davis, who graduated from Kent-Meridian in 1998 and is in his first head coaching position.
“I have nerves, but just the good nerves,” Davis said. “The same nerves most coaches have. The only pressure, for me at least, isn’t from wins or losses, but from knowing that so many young men are under my watch.”
Davis replaces Michael Angelidis, who stepped down just two weeks after the Conquerors knocked off Jackson 67-58 for the Class 4A state title last March. Angelidis posted a 74-37 record and two league titles in four years at the helm of the Kentwood program. Along with the exit of Angelidis, the Conquerors also graduated their top two scorers in Josh Smith (19 points per game) and Tre Tyler (10.4). Smith, a 6-foot-10, 300-pound center who earned MVP honors at the state tournament, is now playing at UCLA.
This winter, with a new coach in fold and without the services of Smith, the Conquerors will be taking on a new identity.
“Davis’ style is way different from last year,” said Kentwood guard Alec Wilson, noting that the Conquerors will be more up-tempo than last season, when their offense revolved around Smith’s powerful inside game. “It’s a brand-new team. We’ll be looking to run a lot more. Davis likes to run some sets, but we have some fast break stuff, too. I like what’s happening.”
Those who might think the Conquerors are in trouble without the big man in the middle will be sadly mistaken. Though the Conquerors don’t yet have a go-to player, they do have ample options from which to choose. Senior forward Jason Boyce, who averaged 9 points per game last year and is a steady contributor on both ends of the floor, is one of those key options.
“Boyce is a tremendous athlete, and is really coming into his own,” Davis said.
Then there’s the sharp-shooting Wilson, who tied a school record last February when he drained eight 3-pointers in an 88-54 victory over Kentlake.
“He can do some damage,” Davis said. “We’re looking for him to step up some more.”
Meanwhile, 5-foot-9 guard Mikelle Everett, 6-foot-6 forward Taylor Jones and 5-foot-11 guard Isaiah Malvar add to an athletic bunch that should once again challenge for league supremacy.
“I think we do have some great pieces,” Davis said. “Our bench is very good and probably will be underrated. And we’ve got some kids who are going to surprise some people.”
CONQUERORS: AT A GLANCE
• COACH: Brian Davis, 1st year.
• LAST YEAR: 11-5 in league (2nd), 20-10 overall, state champs.
• TOP RETURNERS: Jason Boyce, sr., forward; Alec Wilson, sr., guard; Mikelle Everett, sr., guard; Taylor Jones, jr., forward; Isaiah Malvar, jr., guard; Skyler Genger, jr., guard.
• TOP NEWCOMERS: Austin Benson, jr., forward; Jeremy Smith, jr., guard; Denzel Shelton, sr., guard.
• STRENGTH: Speed, defense, toughness.
• WEAKNESS: No go-to scorer, consistent shooting.
• LAST STATE APPEARANCE: 2010.
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