By Chris Parker
Diamond boys basketball has a new head coach in Lance Robbins. Robbins enters his 27th year coaching overall and 11th coaching boys. He has made stops at Sarcoxie, Carl Junction and Hollister coaching boys while spending time at Neosho and Webb City coaching girls.
“It (taking over at Diamond) was a great opportunity for me to get back to the boys side of coaching and the challenge of building a program that has not had a lot of success in recent years,” Robbins said.
Robbins has three keys to turning around a program coming off a five-win season.
“Relationships, culture, and getting athletes and parents to commit to the process in order to be successful,” Robbins said.
Luke Lorenzen and Kayden Patterson will be two returning seniors.
Lorenzen is a guard.
“Luke Lorenzen has the potential to have a great senior season,” Robbins said. “He can impact the game at both ends of the floor and from a leadership standpoint. We are expecting big things from Luke this season.”
Patterson will play in the post.
“Kayden Patterson is a big physical player that can also step out and shoot the three-point shot,” Robbins said. “We will need KP to be the anchor of our defense and control the glass.”
Adam Brown (guard), Wyatt Smith (guard/post) and Wyatt Housh (guard) are a junior trio who return.
Robbins on Brown: “Adam Brown can be an explosive scorer who has been working extremely hard this offseason to improve his game. He could have a breakout junior season.”
Robbins on Smith: “Wyatt can play both inside and outside for us and has Improved his ability to shoot the three-point shot.”
Robbins on Housh: “Wyatt will be one of our primary ball handlers. He is very coachable. His high energy and will be a catalyst for what we plan to do defensively.”
Sophomores Giancarlo Martinez (guard), Easten Badley (guard), Maddox Youngblood (guard) and junior Charles Jackson (post) round out the returning players.
Caiden Meza (freshman guard), Aiden Melton (sophomore post) and Logan Rodgers (senior post) will be newcomers.
All of these players will combine for Diamond’s biggest strength: depth.
“Our biggest strength will be our depth,” Robbins said. “We feel like we have about 8-10 guys that can contribute at the varsity level and with the up-tempo style we plan to play our depth will be key.”
Confidence and scoring will be area’s Diamond looks to improve.
“We think there are two things we need to improve on that will have an immediate impact for us,” Robbins said. “First, we need to improve our overall confidence in our abilities and in each other. Second, we have to score the basketball better than we have in the past.”
Diamond opens the season on Nov. 26 at East Newton.
