Fourth-year Cabrillo boys’ basketball coach Kyles Hawkins’ team is making progress. The Jaguars finished tied with Millikan for fifth place in the Moore League last year during the abbreviated Spring season, and the team once again has some young talent to build around.
“I think I’m doing something right even though we’re not winning as much as I’d like,” said Hawkins.
The Jags’ coach is a rarity at the school in that he’s also an alum, giving him an investment and belief in his program that’s heartfelt. He’s assembled a winnable nonleague schedule that he hopes will help his team find its way into the playoffs. To do so, they’ll need a young core of players to step up, with just two returners.
Kevin Sanchez will be the captain, a third-year varsity starter.
“I’m pushing him to produce a little more offensively,” said Hawkins. “We need him to score and shoot the ball.”
The other returning starter is Seti Lamsam Jr., who will also be a senior starter for the Jags.
Hawkins will also have two freshmen on varsity that he’s hoping will contribute, as well as junior Deshon McMiller.
“If he stays focused and sticks to the gameplan he’s going to have a great season,” said Hawkins.
The Jaguars will also rely on an influx of young talent including two freshmen on varsity likely to get big minutes.
“You know, every year I’ve always gone young on our roster and it hasn’t worked out for me yet,” said Hawkins. “The year I thought I had something going, the pandemic happened. We had eight returners. This year we have two--but we do have that young core again.”
