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Highland • David Evans monitors afternoon shootaround at center court, resembling the high school equivalent of Texas Tech football coach Kliff Kingsbury, before jumping into one-on-one instruction. He's young, with a sleek, athletic build, dressed stylishly with perfectly combed GQ hair.
It's a new era of Lone Peak basketball, but expectations at the state's premier basketball program haven't diminished with the new coach. Quincy Lewis, who captained the Knights to seven state championships, 10 region titles, one national championship and an overall 250-45 record in 12 seasons, is gone after accepting a position with BYU in the offseason, ushering in a changing of the guard with Evans.
"He's more of a player's coach," said senior guard and Duke commit Frank Jackson, considered one of the top prospects in America. "… Everything he teaches us, I believe in — we believe in. We trust in him. I'm excited to get started."
The team's two leaders have already developed a cohesive relationship, an understanding and appreciation for the way each one operates. The direction of the program now rests solely in their hands, as for the first time in Jackson's career he's playing without an established wingman to alleviate pressure and supplement scoring.
Evans views the situation differently. When the Knights open up the 2015-16 campaign on the road against Layton, the defending Class 5A champion, on Dec. 2, he believes the offense will be a collective mesh of styles and blends from numerous contributors.
"I see a group effort," he explained. "I think it's going to be five guys working together on the court. They can all score, they can all shoot, they can all defend — they can all rebound. It's going to be more of a joint effort with everyone, not just one wingman. We all have to come together, or we won't be successful."
Jackson, Christian PoPoola Jr., who transferred to Bishop Gorman (Nev.) before the season, and Nick Curtis, who graduated, accounted for nearly all of Lone Peak's offensive production last season, with Jackson shouldering the heaviest load. Jackson anticipates the same type of attention for his senior year.
"I expect double-teams, triple-teams," Jackson said. "I trust my teammates to hit open shots when that does happen. I'm definitely prepared. … I wouldn't want to play with any other guys. These guys are all my brothers. I think if we just play together, we'll be absolutely fine. I think, right now, we're just working on being better to reach our ultimate goal."
Tyson Doman is expected to increase his per-game contributions this season with an expanded role within the offense. Nate Harkness, who played sparingly last season, will likely emerge as another viable option, Doman says.
"We'll see when it starts," Doman said. "[We] both can put up numbers to help support Frank."
Evans, who coached at BYU-Hawaii and overseas before accepting the Lone Peak position, mirrors his philosophy with his experience coaching at the next level.
"We play a pretty up-tempo style of play," Evans said. "We try to model our system after a collegiate system. We have high-intensity practices, two practices a day. The boys work really hard."
Last season, Lone Peak's reign of four consecutive state championships concluded when Viewmont connected on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the Class 5A boys' basketball tournament.
Doman says in order to get back on top, the Knights must return to playing staunch defense.
"We know we can score, we've always known that," Doman explained, "but we try to maintain the same philosophy that defense wins ballgames."
Twitter: @trevorphibbs —
About Lone Peak
• Lone Peak enters a new era under first-year coach David Evans and five-star recruit Frank Jackson playing without an established wingman for the first time in his career.
• With Christian PoPoola Jr. transferring out of state, Tyson Doman and Nate Harkness are expected to get increased roles.
• The Knights open their season on the road against defending champion Layton on Dec. 2.