Westlake HS came out of the gate in their first fall game with a whole new look. In what will be their first season under former Austin HS Coach Tres Ellis, the Chaps promise to be a much more exciting squad to watch. They played up tempo and pressed and trapped most of the evening. Their new press keyed several runs that ultimately decided the game a 47-36 win over Pflugerville Hendrickson.
The Chaps are young, but experienced. Their three key guys are all 2010 players who have notched many games at the highest level while playing with the Texas D-1 Ambassadors organization. 6'2" PG Cody Doolin and 6'6" WF Connor Kemper are true champions having led the 2010 D-1 Ambassadors to back to back Kingwood Classic Championships.
Doolin is a do all guard who has deep range on his shot, can get to the rim and knows how to run a team. Doolin is getting a lot of college interest and currently has one D-1 offer under his belt with the University of San Francisco. When I spoke to Cody last night he felt the highlight of the summer was reaching the semi-finals of the Tulsa Showcase loosing at the buzzer in a barner to the St. Louis Eagles. it was after that game, that USF quickly offered.
Kemper battled injury problems this summer but looks to have a great year at Westlake. He is tough inside, with a big frame, yet can take the ball outside and has a much better than average stroke out to the 3 point line.
Big Gus Leeper checks in at 6'8" and depending on how hard he chooses to work can be a real force. A straight "A" student he is drawing interest from the likes of Utah and is on the verge of being offered by Lehigh. His interest is engineering, so that could be a great fit.
6'6" 2009 Clark Allan could also surprise. He's not particularly nimble of foot, but the kid has very crafty low post moves...up and under etc, a la a poor man's Kevin McHale.
Coach Ellis is shooting to win district 25-5A , but they'll have their hands full with Mike Murphy's Pflugerville Panthers. It should make for an exciting race. Expectations amongst the parents and student body is high, and judging from the feedback I got last night the players and families, and Coach Ellis are excited about the coming season.
UPDATE: I had a chance to view Westlake again yesterday at Mike Kunstadt's Fall Shootout in San Antonio and I really like 2011 6'0" PG Hagen Fell (also a scratch golfer). With him and All Everything G Cody Doolin in the backcourt the Chaps are going to be tough this year. Also, 2010 W 6'5" Carl Meyertons who did not initially impress me in September has a knack for scoring. Doesn't always look pretty doing it, but when you look at the box score, he's in double figures.
