With fall sports playoffs in full swing, the winter sports season is finally on the horizon. On Monday, November 13, basketball players will hit McHugh for the first of their three days of tryouts to compete for spots on Prep’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. By the end of the month the regular season will be under way.
Senior Kailyn Beckner and sophomore Balin Meza provided their thoughts on the Prep basketball program’s preparation for this season, as well as what to expect by season’s end: “[In] June, we had the start of our summer season where we had four tournaments…two days a week [of] individual development trainings where most of the team would show up and…run through some drills” Meza explained.
One of those four tournaments was Section 7, a college showcase tournament in Phoenix, AZ, which both programs participated in. The girls’ team came away as champions of their bracket, the boys with a win of their own. Beckner revealed that the tournament also “added to [their] team chemistry because it [was with] all the players that will be on varsity this year.”
A month after summer training concluded, both teams picked up work again at the start of the school year. “We [have] three days a week [of] open gyms…we just run through some drills and then we play five on five”, Meza revealed. Beckner noted the presence of “dribbling drills…a ton of shooting [and] a lot of individual development.”
These open gyms are senior-led and serve as a great way to get players in shape for the season. Beckner says the cardio from the open gyms combined with the weekly lifting sessions have her feeling well prepared. Meza harped on the importance of offseason feedback, saying the coaches “[gave] me the space to grow and…help me improve.”
When asked about the carry-over from last year, both Beckner and Meza pointed to the loss of senior leadership from last season, Meza adding that it “kept the team together.” Each expects it to be a challenging, yet exciting gap to fill this year, praising class of ’23 players Ava Krueger and John Slavin as key leaders “on and off the court” that everyone looked up to.
In terms of expectations, Beckner speaks highly of her team: “Because of the depth on our team…we can go really far.” Considering their strong summer, this team truly seems built for a successful high school season.
Knowing his team will be challenged to fill the void of losing so many seniors, Meza still likes their chances: “Losing five seniors is big, so we’re young, but don’t be surprised if we shock a lot of people this year.”
Both players chimed in on underrated players you should be looking out for on the court this season. Beckner spoke highly of Kylin Kinchen ’27: “No one has had the opportunity to see her play…they will be surprised with how good she is as a freshman.” Meza was quick to answer: “Nirvaan Misra ‘25”. According to their teammates, these two are primed for success on the court this season.
Beckner and Meza each noted a specific team Prep is looking forward to competing against. Meza said the boys’ team has been waiting to play Rainier Beach again: “Last year they got us four times…this year, we’re coming back and we’re coming for them.”
Beckner said the girls are hyped for West Seattle, noting “[it’s] a pretty big rematch…because we lost to them a lot last year.” Both teams are ensured two games against these opponents during the regular season so they will get their opportunities.
One exciting new change this season is the addition of the Merlino Center, which allows for more scheduling flexibility. For years, limited gym space has split practice times among programs and levels. Now with an extra gym, Beckner predicts the freshman girls will no longer be forced to practice alone: “All the girls’ teams [will practice] at the same time,” she said.
Another plus of having two gyms is the potential for improvements to practice structure. For the boys, Meza believes “JV will be in the Merlino [Center] and varsity will have the full gym.” Instead of packing both teams into one gym – giving each just one half of the court – teams may now have the choice of splitting between the two gyms. Meza noted the importance of separate practice, specifically of letting varsity “practice as [they] play” on the main court. “It…allows both teams to focus more,” he added.
In past years limited space has forced teams to practice at considerably late times, but Beckner thinks that will change this year: “Our practice time [will be] normal and not late,” she emphasized. “That’s pretty significant.” Regardless of how the Merlino Center impacts each team, both players are excited about the possibilities.
Looking forward to tough games this year – the boys against schools like O’Dea, Garfield, Eastside Catholic, and Rainier Beach, and the girls against West Seattle, Garfield, Eastside Catholic, and Lakeside – both players expressed the hope that fans come show their support. “We need the stands packed every home game,” Meza emphasized.
During the season, Friday home games mean the school is hosting a “quad night,” where all four teams (both girls’ and boys’ JV and varsity) play consecutively. Beckner recommends “[you] go to quad nights so that you can watch all the teams.”
Just a few weeks remain before opening night, and anticipation levels couldn’t be higher for both fans and players. Look out for the schedule release and make sure to stay tuned throughout the season. From the addition of the Merlino Center, to the exciting rivalries, to the promising talent on the court, “this season will be fun to watch”, Meza claimed.
