By Chris Parker
Waynesville boys basketball has a new head coach in Anthony Caruso this season. He brings 12 years of coaching experience to the program with stops at Crane, Nixa, Chadwick, Richland, Waynesville, Lesterville and, most recently, Alton.
“The move to Waynesville was based on several factors. My wife is from Richland, Missouri, so the opportunity to bring our two boys back home to spend time with their grandparents played a significant role in the decision,” Caruso said. “Additionally, I have a great relationship with Coach Pilz, and I was initially hired to be his JV coach. However, he decided to retire. I can’t lie; I was originally a bit shocked because summer workouts were underway. But after working with the players on the team, I knew it was a no-brainer to apply for the job. They are high-character kids who care about improving their game and are a great group to be around. Lastly, I grew up as a military dependent and have had the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Air Force, both Active and Reserves, for the past 20 years. So being able to serve in a military community represents a fantastic opportunity to give back to something that has been so special to me over the years.”
This is a year of transition for Waynesville boys basketball in more ways than one, as the team moves from the Ozark Conference to the COC.
“The transition to the COC should seem relatively familiar with many of the teams that were in the OC also joining the conference,” Caruso said. “But, the opportunity in itself is exciting for our guys, they are embracing the opportunity to compete against the best that SWMO has to offer.”
He takes over a program looking for its first season above .500 since 2021 when the Tigers won a district title.
“Several factors have influenced those records, including transfers, injuries, and students PCSing to other bases,” Caruso said. “As a coaching staff, our goal is to build a culture of responsibility, accountability, and reliability. When players and staff address and buy into these cultural intangibles, basketball skills and abilities begin to align with the culture we are striving to create and represent.”
Codye Black (junior guard), Ethan Esguerra (senior forward) and Brandon Jackson (junior forward) are the top returning players.
Caruso on Black: “Codye embodies what a coaching staff looks for in a player. He is a high-character kid who is always present when the gym and weight room are open, cares about improving his game, and brings a lot of energy and communication to practice. I believe he has the opportunity for a successful junior year; he has worked hard to get stronger, and his ability to separate from defenders and find open shots has improved. His silky-smooth shot should translate well to a higher shooting percentage this season. How he adjusts to teams focusing on him and how he handles adversity will be key factors for him this year.”
Caruso on Esguerra: “Ethan has the opportunity to be a difference maker on both sides of the ball for us each night. He has a strong build and is tough to stop when he is making a move towards the rim. He showcased that offensive ability a few times last year, and we are looking for that every night his senior year.”
Caruso on Jackson: “Brandon is a guy that is going to play big minutes for us this year. He is a high IQ athlete that scores at the rim and has worked hard to improve his range. Brandon will make a big difference for us on both sides of the ball, and I believe his length and athleticism will really pay off on defense. The coaching staff is excited to see the work that he put in this offseason pay off.”
Jayden Reynolds (sophomore forward), Eric Glover (senior guard), Isaiah Montgomery-Love (senior forward), Omar Gonzales (senior sophomore), Jerom Shelton (sophomore guard) and Demarion Gardner (senior guard) are newcomers to watch.
Caruso on Reynolds: “Jaiden made a spot start as a freshman last year in the final regular season game, and I believe his confidence took off after he showed he could compete at a high level. As a coaching staff, we feel like he gets better every time he touches the floor. He has a high ceiling, and his length and athleticism will help this team on both sides of the floor.
Caruso on Glover: “Eric is a kid that did not finish the year last season, but is capable of helping us compete at a high level. He did a lot of the small things for us this summer and showed that he was more than capable of knocking down the three consistently.”
Caruso on Montgomery-Love: “Isaiah is a young man that had a really good summer for us. He has a strong build and makes a difference on the defensive end. If he can consistently finish around the rim he will have a good season.”
Caruso on Gonzales: “Omar played meaningful varsity minutes as a freshman and will be asked to do the same as a sophomore. He is a gritty player with a high IQ and can create havoc on the defensive end. He did a great job this summer setting his teammates up for success and the coaching staff is excited to see it translate to the season.”
Caruso on Shelton: “Jerome had a strong showing this summer running the point and playing between both levels. He is a young man that loves the game, and it shows in how much he has improved since this past June. He has great length for his position and his IQ and ability to make teammates better will be something that this team needs from him.”
Caruso on Gardner: “Demarion did not have a lot of reps at the varsity level last year. He has worked hard to position himself to play meaningful minutes. He is a long player and can create havoc on ball handlers and has a good ability to anticipate the next pass.”
Caruso is looking for his team to mesh together into a cohesive unity to find success this season.
“Early in our practices I’ve not been seeing the camaraderie that successful teams have,” Caruso said. “We have to understand that our team’s success comes as a result of being great teammates. We must celebrate our successes as a team, embrace each other’s success on the floor, be prepared to make sacrifices and do what is best for the team.”
Waynesville opens the regular season on Nov. 23 at the Bunker Shootout against West Plains.
“Our goal as a coaching staff is to help these young men become the best versions of themselves,” Caruso said. “Basketball presents a unique platform to help change and shape lives and we want our players to be able to learn from their experiences and reflect on the opportunities that are given to them. We will not be able to celebrate a lot of these successes early as a staff, but we will hopefully be able to see them years down the road.”
