Experience gives Agassi Prep hope for another 2A state title

A boys basketball team that returns four starters from a state championship season would seem to be dangerous.

And when that team has at least 12 seniors on its roster?

“It’s incredibly exciting,” Agassi Prep coach Wendell West said. “I’ve watched the growth of some of these kids since they were in the seventh and eighth grade, so to get the opportunity to get to coach them their senior year, it’s incredible.”

Agassi Prep opens the season against Mojave at 8 p.m. Thursday at Legacy in the Legacy Tip-Off Classic. The Stars will be looking to prove themselves against a field that includes six Class 4A teams.

West took over for William Hopkins, who resigned after guiding Agassi Prep to the Class 2A state title last season. West was an assistant on that team, helping the Stars establish an up-tempo system that resulted in the first team state title since the school opened in 2001.

West, who was a star forward on Western’s 4A state title team in 2000-01, has implored his players to realize that defending a championship is more difficult than winning it the first time.

“I’m hoping we’re more hungry instead of satisfied,” he said. “If they take on my personality, I’m hungry, and that’s what I’m trying to instill in them.”

That shouldn’t be a problem for senior forward Curtis Watson.

“We have more drive,” Watson said. “Teams are going to bring their 'A’ game against us.”

The 6-foot-3-inch Watson averaged 10.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists last season. He’ll pair with senior Kalinn Jackson (14.0 ppg) to give the Stars an explosive tandem on the wings.

Senior Terrell Kemp (5.3 ppg) is back at point guard, and senior center Anson Williams (10.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg) should get more scoring chances after the graduation of power forward Quincy Brown.

“We’ve been playing together since sophomore year, so we’re going to be close,” Williams said. “We’ve got a lot of seniors, and experience is key.”

Watson knows being the hunted makes defending the 2A state title a challenge.

“We’re a target, and everybody is going to be gunning for us,” he said. “With that target on us, it’s going to help us to stick together.”