Outlaws basketball returns four

The Outlaws return four senior players — Adam Maddox-Castle, Jessey Murillo, Taine Martin, and Mehkye Froehlich — to the boys varsity squad this season. Maddox-Castle and Jessey Murillo have played on the varsity squad since their sophomore year, and will bring leadership, poise, and experience to the team.

Maddox-Castle primarily played at point guard in past seasons. This year he will also be able to play off the ball, where the team can use his strength and athletic skills to advantage on both the offensive and defensive end. Adam averaged 4.5 points per game last year and led the team in assists with 2.2 per game.

Coach Chad Rush described Maddox-Castle as a pit bull on defense, and expects him to be a great leader on the floor again this year.

Murillo will play at forward, and will look to expand his game skills as he moves to more perimeter play. He averaged 4.8 points last year and was second on the team in rebounding with 5.3 per game.

Rush said, “Jessey is an extremely hard worker that played undersized for his position all of last season. He is an intelligent player that understands the game of basketball, which helps him be a step ahead of the opposing players during game situations.”

Martin will step into the No. 5 spot for the Outlaws. Last year, Martin floated between JV and varsity, and, according to Rush, has shown himself to be a great rebounder on both ends of the floor. Martin will anchor the inside for the Outlaws with his defensive intensity and rebounding ability. He is also one of the Outlaws’ quickest players, and the team will look to him to score points in transition after he beats his man down the floor.

Froehlich floated between JV and varsity at the start of last season, moved fully to varsity, and started a few games. Rush noted that Froehlich is the most athletic player on the team, which allows him to do what the coaches can’t teach.

Rush said, “Mehkye’s athleticism on the wing will be needed as the team will look to pressure defensively more this season and then get out in transition.”

Joining the varsity squad this year are sophomores Kale Gardner, Landen Scott, and Diego Silva.

Gardner will handle a large portion of the point guard duties. Rush says that Gardner is a tenacious competitor, who brings energy on both sides of the floor. He will lead the Outlaws’ transition attack after both missed and made baskets.

Scott is a player who has a knack for finding ways to score. The team will look to him to be a versatile perimeter player, and he will play at multiple positions on the floor.

Silva will also be a jack-of-all-trades for the Outlaws this year, as he will play both inside and outside positions.

Rush said, “Diego is a player that only knows one speed while on the floor, and that is go, go, go! His energy is contagious and helps to bring the energy level of the team up at crucial times in a game.”

Several players will start the season splitting their time between JV and varsity, including Brody Fischer (junior), and sophomores Hudson Beckwith, Garrett Sager, and Levi Szesze, all of who will play an important role in the program this season.

Fischer is expected to be a three-point sharpshooter with his nice, soft touch from behind the arc, which will be needed in the team’s attacking offensive style. Beckwith also has a soft touch from the outside and has an aggressive attack to the basket. Sager added strength to his game in the off-season and according to Rush will be a “defensive stalwart” for the team and provide much-needed rebounding. Rush noted that Szesze is a crafty player that has an uncanny ability to attack the basket and finish inside.”

All four of these players will provide valuable depth to both the JV and varsity teams this season.

The Outlaws were scheduled to kick off preseason with a non-league game on Wednesday, November 30 against Burns and then travel to Riverdale on Friday two days later.