SEATTLE — To say the King’s boys basketball team has reloaded for next season would be an understatement.
The Knights, who finished second at the Class 2A state tournament last season, have moved down to Class 1A and have to be considered one of the early favorites to contend for the state title.
The reason?
“We’re stacked with talent,” said senior guard Spencer Clark. “Obviously we don’t want anything less than state.”
The Knights have first-team all-state tournament selection Charlie Enquist back to build the team around. Enquist, a 6-foot, 9-inch center, has a nice shooting touch and serves as a human fly swatter to those who dare to drive the lane. The Knights were without the senior-to-be during a team camp at the University of Washington in mid-June and three games June 24 at the Seattle Pacific University High School Classic, while he recovered from having his tonsils removed.
Even so, King’s went 4-3 at the Husky team camp and 2-1 at Seattle Pacific, including a come-from-behind win against Inglemoor, a top 4A team.
The big difference on the team is the arrival of a handful of newcomers who are expected to make an impact right away.
Junior Erich Fuhlendorf, a 6-4 forward, averaged seven points a game as a freshman for King’s before transferring to Woodinville where he played on the varsity last year.
When Fuhlendorf’s family moved earlier this year, deciding to transfer back to King’s was an easy decision, he said. The toughest part of his return has been remembering the defenses, Fuhlendorf said.
“With Coach (Marv) Morris’ coaching and the talent that we have I see a pretty good season coming along,” he said.
Joining Enquist in the post will be 6-7 junior Dylan O’Neil, a transfer from Seattle Prep. The return of O’Neil, who attended King’s in the eighth grade, gives the Knights a huge size advantage.
Senior Biniam Tadele, a cross country and track runner, played basketball at Shorewood his freshman year and decided to come out for the Knights this summer.
“I missed it so much, I haven’t played in so long,” said Tadele, a 6-3 guard/forward. “It feels good to be back and playing.”
The Knights are loaded in the backcourt, with four players who can play the point, led by 5-10 junior Bryan Ayers. Cameron George, a 5-10 junior who arrived on campus during second semester last year, Clark and Alex Mar who has moved up from junior varsity will also compete for playing time.
David Blue, a 5-8 senior who often started at shooting guard last year, is a key returnee in the backcourt.
“We just have to step in and do our roles,” Blue said. “We have to be ready to shoot if they double down low.”
Other varsity players back include 6-3 forward Austin Bowlin, 6-3 forward Greg Uhrich and 6-2 Sean Webb.
“Those are three guys who can really help us and will be big factors,” said Morris, who enters his seventh year at King’s.
The purpose of playing the summer games is to find out more about the personnel, where they fit into Morris’ game plan.
“I’m trying to find out who can handle what,” said Morris, who led the Knights to 1A titles in 2001 and 2002. “What do they do under pressure. Are they being coachable?”
So far the mix of new guys with the playoff-tested veterans from last year has blended well.
King’s lost playmaker Jared Madrazo, forward Carson Bowlin and several key role players to graduation, but the Knights are as deep if not more so than last year. The Knights are attending a team camp at Gonzaga right now that runs through July 3.
“I’m very excited about the potential of this team,” Morris said. “They’re good kids, they’ll work hard. It’s going to be a fun year.”
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