A long offseason is finally over for the boys basketball team, and players couldn’t be happier.

The team will feature one of the most experienced squads in the Sunflower League, making this season highly anticipated.
The team will start the season at home against Emporia on Dec. 5 with its first game in “The Jungle.”

“I am so hyped. We’re all on pins and needles,” senior John Barbee said. “We all have improved, and we’re ready to put the pieces together and just play.”

Junior forward Fred Brou is also ready for the season to arrive.

“I’m just looking forward to getting back together with the team again and playing basketball every day,” he said. “The team has been ready to play again since the day we lost to O-East. Everyone has worked super hard in the offseason to get better, and we expect the results to show.”

Following a 17-5 season is not easy to do, but the goal for team members is to do even better. They will rely heavily on the guard play they’ve had from the last two years.

“We…want to do better than what we did last year, and playing as a team, moving the ball around a lot more and not letting it stick in one person’s hand the whole game,” Barbee said.

Last year, the team lost in the sub-state championship game to Olathe East — a huge heartbreak falling in the wake of assistant coach Kermit Aldridge’s death. This year, players believe they will best the rival Hawks.

“Last year they were so tough and they’ll probably be our toughest opponent again this year,” Barbee said. “But I believe we will definitely be able to deal with them a lot better this year.”

Juniors like Brou and Price Morgan will be called upon to step up and provide a big boost in the front court. They both played on varsity last year with Morgan a constant in the starting five. Both will give the team much needed experience this year in the front court.

“Everyone expects us to do really well, and the pressure is on because we know we are capable of being really good if we play together,” Brou said. “Personally, I’m looking forward to playing more minutes and being a solid role player.”

The three returning seniors, Anthony Bonner, Ben Rajewski and John Barbee, will also be expected to be leaders and carry the team to a deep postseason run.

“They are all three great team players and have been waiting for this moment for years,” Brou said.

The seniors will be missed after the season, making their presence on this year’s team that much more important.
“I’m definitely going to miss playing in front of our crowd and beating Free State in the Jungle,” Barbee said.

The players will have the benefit of Coach Mike Lewis returning. They rallied to Lewis’ side when he was fired after last season and then rehired after players, students and parents spoke out.

Junior Price Morgan said Lewis was the right man all along.

“There’s no better guy for the job,” Morgan said. “He loves his players, his staff and Lawrence High. Everyone on the team is family to him, and he wants nothing more than for us to succeed.”

Also on players’ minds will be Coach Aldridge.

“He was a huge inspiration for us, and when he passed, it was hard for us, but we all came together as a family and dealt with it as a team,” Barbee said. “I’m glad he’s in a better place now and he’s definitely going to be on every one of our minds with the season starting to come up.”

Players are dedicating the season to Aldridge, and emotions will be high for the first home game.

“Even in the hospital, he was more concerned with how we did in sub-state rather than his own health condition,” Brou said. “We all will miss his heart, fire and love for the game.”