The Thomas Jefferson boys basketball team will have a new look this winter, as the Cavaliers have no returning starters entering the 2023-24 season.
“The team is young, but excited to get to work,” Thomas Jefferson coach Chris Myers said. “We have a long way to go, but the kids seem eager to put in the time and effort it’s going to require to move this team forward.”
A year ago, the Cavaliers featured five seniors in the starting lineup—Jay Ball, Tyler Brouhard, Tony Touma, Kip Atteberry and Levi Triplett. And last year’s senior class led the way as Thomas Jefferson went 21-7 overall, 5-1 in conference play and advanced all the way to the Class 1 quarterfinals.
With that, the Cavaliers will rely on a large group of underclassmen this season.
Two players return with prior varsity experience—junior forward Ethan Renger and sophomore forward/center Kohl Thurman.
The 6-foot-4 Thurman averaged 2.6 points and three rebounds a game last winter, while the 6-2 Renger averaged one point and one rebound a contest.
Sophomores Jaxx Wisdom (G), Kyler Beard (G) and Trenton Farley (G) and freshmen Jack Twiss (PG), Spencer Long (F), Yousuf Mokhtar (F) and Simon Studer (G) are players who are expected to compete for varsity playing time.
Coach Myers noted that Twiss is the leading candidate to take over the starting point guard duties.
Additionally, Myers said he expects Wisdom, Long and Mokhtar to compete for starting roles.
While the young and untested Cavaliers may experience some growing pains along the way, Coach Myers is confident his squad will make steady progress throughout the ’23 campaign.
“We are in a rebuilding phase as the old saying goes,” Myers said. “We have graduated several key players over the past two seasons and will have to look to young players this year to fill those roles. While we will likely lean on several freshmen this season, the expectation is that we will get better as the season goes on. Though young, this group seems hungry to get better.”
Of course, overcoming so much inexperience will be the team’s main key to success this winter.
“Our youth and inexperience will be a big area of concern for us,” Myers said. “These kids are going to have to trust the process, and not get discouraged as we battle through the season.
“I’m fully confident this group will work hard and continue to push for success – whether that success is found this season or in future seasons is yet to be determined.”
The Cavaliers will open the 2023-24 season at home against Exeter on Nov. 20.
