By Chris Parker
Purdy boys basketball will have a different look coming off a 15-11 season with just one starter returning.
Senior guard Damon Mahurin is the lone returning starter. He made 60 3-pointers averaging 12.7 points per game.
“Damon is an excellent shooter and defender,” Purdy head coach Brad Stewart said.
Hunter Wormington is a junior forward who was the sixth man last season.
“(He) led the team in charges drawn and was our best defensive post players,” Stewart said. “Hunter had multiple double figure scoring games last year and showed even more offensive improvement this summer.”
Daniel Aldaba was the first guard off the bench last season and looks to be the starting point guard this season.
“Daniel has great poise and also improved offensively,” Stewart said.
Grady Mahurin is a sophomore wing who led the junior varsity in scoring last season.
“Grady, who is brother to Damon, is also a great shooter and will be one of our top scorers this season,” Stewart said.
Simon Walker played junior varsity last season as a junior and is a post player.
“Simon Walker played JV last year and showed an excellent midrange game and held up well defensively as an anchor to our defense this summer,” Stewart said.
Jackson Lee is a junior guard.
“Jackson Lee has excellent range and is extremely quick defensively,” Stewart said. “We hope to stretch the floor this year, and Jackson fits in really well.”
Jaydyn Griffis was the junior varsity point guard last season. Stewart says he attacks the rim well.
Logan Manwarren (junior guard), Charles Barnes (sophomore forward), Dalton Redshaw (freshman post), Waylon Tyson (freshman point guard) and Alex Stubblefield (junior post) will all look to impact varsity.
“Quickness, teamwork and shooting should be strengths. We plan to stretch the floor and feel we have multiple players who can do so,” Stewart said. “We will need to improve defensively and rebounding. We definitely need to win the turnover battle nightly.”
Purdy opens the season Nov. 22-26 at the Verona Tournament.
“We hope to play an entertaining exciting brand of basketball that the players enjoy playing and fans of ours enjoy watching,” Stewart said.
