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Extreme depth: Senior-heavy roster leads Boyd this season
By Richard C. White, rwhite@starlocalnews.com
Leadership is a vital component in sports, and high school teams typically get it from their senior class.
Few teams, though, will ever have as much senior leadership as this year's McKinney Boyd basketball team. Head coach Dean Christian has senior depth that would make most teams envious, as 11 of his 14 players are seniors.
"We have a lot of seniors, and they're all great kids," he said. "They started with me from when I first got here when they were sophomores and they grew up with me. I'm excited for them and what they can do."
The Broncos have relied on a consistent starting five, which has helped guide them to their hot start.
"I'm beginning to see some signs of who we can be, and that's a good sign," Christian said. "We've been pretty consistent with Mikel Parish at the point guard, Manney Collins at shooting guard, joined by [guard] Zach Rubel, [forward] Cooper Welch, and [forward] Martez Butler."
This season the Broncos are looking to build off the consistent improvement they've seen under Christian's watch. Last year Boyd posted a 19-11 record, finishing one spot out of the playoffs.
"Give all the credit to this senior class," Christian said. "Just the culture change that we've experienced at Boyd from when they were sophomores and only won 11 games. Last year we were able to win 19, which was the winningest season in Boyd history and this year we're already of to a great start. It's those guys; they're committed to what we're doing here."
Unlike most teams who rely on just a few key players to come off the bench, the Broncos have several, given their top-heavy senior depth.
"It's really evolving right now," Christian said. "We've gotten some really good play from a lot of guys. Taber MacFadden, Chris Stanton, Daylon Markham have really contributed some solid minutes, and so has Jesus Barrio. They've given us some good support."
Christian also cites the strong defensive play the team has received from guards and twin brothers Eric and Ryan Brinkman.
"Eric and Ryan, when these kids hit the floor, they're always where they're supposed to be," he said. "They take charges, they close the gap and make the defensive rotation you need and they're always boxing out and they set the right pick at the right time. These guys are unbelievable."
In addition to his roster depth, Christian also credits his team's tough schedule for giving his team the experience they'll need later in the year. The Broncos non-district schedule includes such ranked programs as Richardson Berkner, Flower Mound Marcus, Keller, Flower Mound, Hebron and The Colony.
"This is the most challenging schedule that Boyd's ever had," Christian said. "There is some really good coaching up in this North Texas area. These staffs get their teams ready to play and it's not going to be any different no matter who we play."
Christian knows the Broncos will need that experience they gain from these games when they begin their equally tough district slate.
"You can't take a night off in this district, that can't happen," he said. "You'd have to pick Plano East on top, they have a star-studded lineup. Plano has a real nice lineup of guards. They have the size and talent, and there's Plano West, which is loaded, too and Allen has all those kids to pick from, gives them a lot of depth. And McKinney's good, too, they're well-coached. Every night in this district is going to be like playing in Southeastern Conference in college football in that it's going to be a war, a lot of great games."
What Christian likes most besides the recent success, is what his current roster's leadership will mean for future Boyd varsity teams.
"We've played some quality teams and I've been proud of how we've responded," he said. "The leadership is a big reason for that and what I like most is that the freshmen and sophomores get to come up in this system that has so much leadership. These seniors are affecting the program from top to bottom."
Boyd's goal this season is to go where no Broncos boys basketball team has gone before, as it's playoffs or bust for Christian and his staff. Having been close last year coupled with this season's strong start, Christian is excited for what a playoff berth would mean for this senior class.
"It means everything," he said. "And the reason why I say that is because these kids have accomplished everything else and I would love for them to have that. They deserve that, with all of the work that they've put in."
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