ANDOVER, Kan.—
Chad Wilmott is Andover High’s third boys basketball coach in four seasons, and he’s anxious for the Trojans to establish an identity.Wilmott knows his personnel well, having been an AHS assistant the last four years. The Trojans were good but not great last season, going 14-8. They won 10 out of their last 13 games, and twice put a scare into No. 1-ranked Andover Central, but fell short of qualifying for the state tournament.
They had one player average double figure scoring, and he graduated. But Wilmott is optimistic the Trojans can pick up where they left off.
“We have a chance to play more guys this year,” Wilmott said. “We should be deep enough to keep fresh bodies on the floor and play a fast game.”
Leading that charge will be Brady Carter, a 5-foot-10 senior guard who led the Trojans with 46 assists and 27 steals while averaging 6.1 points last season. Carter shot 32.1 percent, making 28.6 from the 3-point line.
Tyler Kvasnicka joins him in the backcourt. A 6-3 senior, Kvasnicka averaged just 3 points last season but showed a knack for delivering in the clutch when his last-second trey clinched a one-point victory over McPherson.
Also back is a pair of 6-2 junior guards. Dylan Driver averaged 7.1 points in 17 games last season; Austin Beahm averaged 3.2 in 20 games.
Wilmott also said his like the Trojans’ size and depth. They return a pair of 6-5 post players in Dallas Bruner (senior, 4.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game) and Adam Dekoning (junior, 3.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg).
The Trojans’ biggest challenge, Wilmott said, is to continue to play as a team and not as individuals.
“Our preseason conditioning went well,” Wilmott said. “We had a good turnout and they worked hard and got better each day. … Our sights are on a league title to start, and we'll see what happens from there.”
