Back To Basic(s)
Basic High School always feels like home. Whether its warm greetings from the faculty, the courtesy of the student athletes or the inclusion from the student body, the bond at Basic is real. No one represents that more than Head Coach James Dinocola. Natly clad in business attire on this day he looks more CEO than basketball coach, however beneath the dapper exterior is a man that bleeds Wolves blue.
“We’ve got a great staff and a lot of support from our principal and athletic director here”
– Head Coach James Dinocola
They also have a winning culture. Gone are the days of Basic being a laughingstock, as the Wolves have been a playoff qualifier the last 3 seasons. A standard the coach fully intends to keep.
“We talk everyday about playing the right way and when you play the right way you’ll find out that the level of play will be consistent”
– James DiNicola
That consistency is buoyed by having their top 2 scorers from a year ago returning. Christian Ballteriez is an electrifying shooter who was in the midst of an all conference type season before an injury to his leg sidelined him.
He’s a returning senior that has had multiple 30 plus point games in his high school career already, we know he can get hot and fill it up quick and he’s definitely not afraid to shoot it.
– James DiNicola
Alvonte Nelson, a transfer from the state of Washington proved to be one of the top passers in the state last year. They also enjoy the luxury of having Tayshaun Waldrop, a Pit bull PG that has developed into one of the best defenders in 4A, and one of the top high academic players in the state. Waldrop is a versatile defender that guards PG’s and Bigs all while rocking a 4.0 GPA.
Having experienced seniors is a luxury the coach is ecstatic to have.
“I think it’s a great thing to have Seniors they bring a lot of experience and a lot of leadership”
– James DiNicola
Another one of those seniors is Joel White a chiseled forward who spent his summer in the weight room bulking up. The irony of all ironies of this senior led team is that a freshman may be one of their most impactful players as Kenny Williams has emerged as a prime ballhandler and playmaker for the team impressing his coach in the process.
He’s not the tallest guy but he’s very dynamic with the basketball”.
– James DiNicola
In a sense Williams is the perfect embodiment of Basic this year. They’re not the biggest group, however they are extremely dynamic and play together with a ton of confidence. The program Williams enters looks a lot different than the program many of the seniors entered as the days of Basic being considered a guaranteed win, are long gone. The School lifer and first year head coach minces no words when discussing his expectations for the team this season.
“The goal is always to put a banner up we wouldn’t settle for anything less”
– James DiNicola
Bruce Williams is an NCAA Certified Scout who covers basketball in Nevada.
He is the senior regional writer for PrephoopsNevada and Prephoopsnext.
He is a UNLV Insider for the Runnin Rebel Report.