Chargers powered by guard play

Boys' basketball team to rely on defensive pressure, highoctane offense


IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers RUN AND GUN—Agoura High's Travis Miller, center, pushes the pace while Tyler Potts calls for the ball during Monday's practice at AHS. Sophomore guard Shayan Boloor is trailing on the play.

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers RUN AND GUN—Agoura High’s Travis Miller, center, pushes the pace while Tyler Potts calls for the ball during Monday’s practice at AHS. Sophomore guard Shayan Boloor is trailing on the play.


If the Agoura High boys’ basketball team is going to make a legitimate run at the program’s first Marmonte League title since 1995, the Chargers are going to need major contributions from a bunch of new faces.

Agoura returns only two players—senior centers Michael Hatch and Kevin Graf—from last year’s squad that went 16-11 overall and tied for third place in league with Westlake.

Hatch, the projected starter in the middle, is 6-foot-7. Graf, a USC football commit on the offensive line, stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 320 pounds.

The duo gives AHS length and bulk in the paint, but the real key to the team’s season, according to head coach Joe Riccio, will be the play of its guards.

“There’s so much parity with these guys that we could start any one of 10 guys,” Riccio said. “It’s kind of a good thing because they all know that whoever plays the hardest will stay in the longest. . . .

“Being that their skill-sets are similar, the difference is going to be the guys that can really defend. Everybody wants to shoot, but having guys that can defend is what we’re looking for.”

Junior Hasan Khan has earned the starting point guard job. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by sophomore shooting guard Shayan Boloor. Another junior, Stephan Hicks, gets the nod at small forward.

“I think we have all the potential to win league, for sure,” Khan said. “Last year our JV team had amazing guards but no solid big men. This year, with the returning big men on the varsity, Graf and Hatch, we’re going to be solid all the way around.”

Senior Keith Brosh is a team leader and will likely serve as Khan’s backup.

Still, the AHS starting five hasn’t been totally settled as the Chargers prepare to open the preseason on Dec. 2 in the Burbank Tournament.

“The last spot is wide open for any one of the other guys right now,” Riccio said.

The fifth starter will likely be another guard, the coach said, with Bryce Majdick, Lucky Radley, Jeff Feinberg, Alex Meldrum, Travis Miller and Matt Bohner all considered solid candidates.

Radley, a junior in his first year with the Chargers, is a standout football and track athlete. He admits, however, that his skills on the basketball court remain somewhat raw. He’s never played above the junior varsity level.

“I expect to add a lot of defense; that’s my strongpoint basketball-wise,” Radley said.

“My shot is looking ugly right now, though, especially since I just came out from football. I’m still rusty, but I’m glad to be back in (the gym) working out and getting in basketball shape.”

Tyler Potts, a senior transfer from Tennessee, and junior David Weber will both see significant minutes in the post.

At 6foot2, Potts is an undersized but hardworking power forward, Riccio said.

Hatch said he expects the Chargers’ pressing defense and fastbreak offense to create problems for opposing teams all season. If the younger players can step up and adapt to the pressure of playing varsity hoops, Hatch views Agoura as a contender in the Marmonte.

“We’ll surprise some teams,” Hatch said. “They won’t know what’s coming.”

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers HUMAN ERASER—Charger junior Stephan Hicks, right, blocks senior center Michael Hatch during practice. Hatch is one of two returning varsity players. Senior center Kevin Graf is the other.

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers HUMAN ERASER—Charger junior Stephan Hicks, right, blocks senior center Michael Hatch during practice. Hatch is one of two returning varsity players. Senior center Kevin Graf is the other.

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