The varsity boys basketball team begins their regular season tonight, at home, against rival Parkway Central. Last year, the Longhorns finished the season with a record of 18-9. The team returns four starters and is loaded with a senior heavy roster.

“We are returning eight seniors, four of which started last season at some point. I think this experience will play a big part in the way we perform. There is a different type of competitiveness during practice which is awesome,” senior guard Wyatt Harlan said.

According to STLhighschoolSPORTS, the Horns enter the season as the number nine large school in the St. Louis area.

“It is an honor to be ranked number nine going into the season. At the end of the day though, our main goal is to finish the year at the top spot,” senior forward Matt Petersen said.

Standout junior forward Wyatt Yess was among the area’s leading scorers last season as a sophomore with 16.2 points per game. Yess also averaged 9.3 rebounds per game making him one of the top class of 2017 prospects in the area. Yess has offers from the University of Missouri, Saint Louis University and the University of Wyoming.

“It was a very fun off-season. I decided not to play football this past fall in order to concentrate more on basketball. I had the opportunity to meet with a few schools in order to narrow down my list. I am really excited about the team and the opportunity we have to compete at a very high level,” Yess said.

Senior guards Caleb Socha and Henderson Faulkner look to control the backcourt for the Horns this season. The duo averaged a combined 14 points per game along with six assists.

“Me and Caleb put a lot of work in during the off-season. Almost every day we would go to 24 Hour Fitness and workout to get stronger. We would also play against each other to get better. Hopefully our hard work will transition to the court,” Faulkner said.

Sophomore newcomers Jack Swiney and Michael Akinwumi look to to make an impact for the team. Swiney is a 6’2 guard who transferred from De Smet at the beginning of the school year.

“It has been a smooth transition from De Smet. Transferring from a catholic private school to a public school was different, but the coaching staff and players have welcomed me with open arms,” Swiney said.

Akinwumi is a 6’5 forward who plays for the St. Louis Eagles club basketball team in the summer, the same organization which has produced talents such as Bradley Beal, Larry Hughes and Jayson Tatum.

“I had a great summer. The tough talent I played against has transformed me into a better basketball player. I think I have gotten more physical and smarter when I’m on the court,” Akinwunmi said.

The Longhorns look to move on from last season’s first round playoff upset against Priory 36-34.

“That loss has definitely been on my mind. We should not have lost that game, we took it for granted and it cost us. However, I think this loss provides us a sense of determination going into the season. We look to win our district this year and to hopefully make a run at the state title,” Socha said.