Road to a State Title with a New Coach

Kelete Sherald
BMHS PrideTime Reporter 

With the basketball season starting up, the main goal for this year is to get to state championship. To prepare for this season, the boys worked offseason by playing fall basketball or worked out with personal trainers. But this year many changes were brought upon the team. Boys Varsity head coach Ken Dustin stepped down and new coach Derrick Eason will be taking over. PrideTime Reporter Kelete Sherald sat down with Xavier Rojas (‘18) and Saikwon Williams (‘19) to talk about how they feel about the new changes.

Xavier Rojas (‘18)

Kelete: Does playing under a new coach affect you? 

Xavier: "Yes because it’s a whole new system. Our goal is to make sure that we can adjust to the system because in the end, we all want the same thing and that's a state title."

Kelete: Do you miss Coach Dustin? Does him resigning have a huge effect on you?

Xavier: "Yes, I had a very close and personal relationship with Coach Dustin and him leaving was huge. Fortunately, he still gives me pointers and advice to help me out with my game."

Rojas has been playing under Coach Dustin since 9th grade. This year, which is his last year of high school, he has to get use to a new coach which can be hard for any player in their senior year to do. “If we all stay together, I don’t feel like this will affect us one bit. In fact, I feel like this will bring us closer together and form that brotherhood on and off the court,” says Rojas.  

​Saikwon Williams (‘19)

Kelete: Going into your junior season for basketball, does having a new coach affect you at all?

Saikwon: "No, not really. I'm just focused on the same thing as last year and that's growing as a basketball player and helping my team go far."

Kelete: Do you think you will miss Coach Dustin?

Saikwon: "Yes, Coach Dustin was more than a coach to me. He was a mentor. He was someone who helped me achieve on and off of the court."

Kelete: Do you think you will be able to adjust to a new coach? Do you think you’ll be able to adjust to a different system and game plans? 

Saikwon: "Well, last year was different because I had a role to play and we had seniors that could score the ball but this year I feel like it’ll be more of a team game than just us depending on one player to do everything."

On Monday, December 18th, boys basketball will be facing Waterford at Waterford High School at 6. Xavier Rojas and Saikwon Williams are ready for the season. The only thing they know is trusting the process. ​