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The Unusual Suspects: West reboots with almost entirely new roster
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Plenty of talent comes through the Plano West boys basketball system.
But that won't necessarily be reflected on the roster this season as Division I commits or prospects Mickey and Mike Mitchell (Prestonwood Christian Academy), Patrick Birt (Plano East), Kimani Jackson (Arlington Seguin) and Jackson Forbes (John Paul II) are all on other rosters for 2012-13.
"That's alright," said Anthony Morgan, West head coach. "We've got our next generation of players coming up that will set us up for the next four or five years."
The graduation of Harmon and Cline, along with Okposin's absence, leaves senior AJ Lozano (third season) and junior Austin Enloe (second) as the team's only returners.
While those departures sap West of seven years varsity experience, they also take away one of the Wolves' biggest strengths from last season: size. While the team would frequently go inside to the 6-foot-8 Harmon or Cline last year, this season's roster has no player taller than 6-foot-6.
That being said, numbers shouldn't be an issue in 2012-13.
In the place of experience and size, the Wolves have first-year players in seniors Zack Levick, Ben Gasaway, Devron Kennedy, juniors Clark Lee, Tre Anderson, CJ Winzer, Josh Webb, Zach White, sophomores DJ Hogg, Derrick Aimes, McCann Utu, Waseem Limbada, Lavel Ramsey and Soso Jamabo. The last name on that list has already made an impact on the varsity gridiron as a running back, but his football teammates also know the basketball skills Jamabo possesses.
"My boy Soso is the truth on the court," said Auston Anderson, West junior running back.
West fans will have to wait a little longer for that though as Jamabo has been in the midst of a playoff run and, like Jackson Jeffcoat before him, will likely need a few weeks after completion of the season to get into basketball shape.
In the meantime, the Wolves have gone 3-4.
After a season-opening loss to Rockwall, West went 2-2 at the San Antonio Northside ISD Tournament last weekend.
Hogg was the leading scorer in three of those four games, which isn't surprising given Hogg has surpassed double figures five times this season and led the team in scoring four times. Lozano (twice) and Enloe have been the team's other leading scorers.
West has its first home game of the season at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against Wylie and will mix in several other non-district games during the month of December in addition to its usual stops at the Cedar Hill Lions Club Tournament (Dec. 6-8) and Whataburger Tournament (Dec. 27-29).
With its shift to the six-team 10-5A, the Wolves won't open district until Jan. 11 as they attempt to advance to the playoffs for a sixth straight season.
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