For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the boys’ basketball
program has reinstated a freshman-only team in addition to the usual JV and varsity teams.
The team is coached by Michael Turpin. He is Spanish teacher Sarah Voorhees’ husband and has been involved in the school’s athletics program for many years. The young Falcons are set to compete in multiple separate games, tournaments and scrimmages throughout the season.
Joining as a coaching assistant is Turpin’s son, Will, who has ample basketball experience due to his time playing basketball here and at Division III basketball for one year at Aurora University in Illinois.
“Both of us are grateful for the opportunity that Coach Davey and Coach Sheehy have given us,” Turpin said. “Our focus is on giving the players a base set of instructions that they can build on for the future.”
The decision to reactivate the team comes as a result of many freshmen showing interest in playing for the sport, along with a large portion of the sophomore class already playing on the JV team.
As tryouts concluded, the freshman team finalized with a roster of 12 players, each with past experience of the sport.
“I feel happy about the new team as it gives more opportunities for players to develop their skills before entering a higher level like JV or varsity,” freshman Hritish Rai said. “I don’t believe it changes the dynamic of JV and varsity, but rather adding a separate component that is able to create more talent and learn from the higher levels.”
Currently, the only tournament the freshman team has officially set is the Blue and White Warrior Classic tournament, which will be played from Dec. 19 to Dec. 21 in South San Francisco against teams like South City.
“It feels good being a representative of the SHS basketball team,” freshman Kevyn Fritz said. “I’m looking forward to having a good relationship with the team and playing against some schools that have very strong players.”
