Chances are the Lynnwood boys basketball team is not going to get outmuscled by a lot of teams this season.
The Royals return a powerful one-two punch in 6-foot-10 junior center Simi Fajemisin and 6-3 senior forward Geoff Meinken, a standout football player who has committed to play for Washington State.
Also back is top scorer Aaron Matzen, a senior guard who averaged about 11 points for Lynnwood, and senior guard Jared Milne, who saw plenty of time off the bench.
“It’s a pretty good nucleus,” said first-year coach Darrell McNeal, who was promoted to head coach after serving as an assistant coach for six years. “We have a big guy in the middle and three nice sized guys. They’ll give us a lot good support.”
Despite all of the size and bulk, the Royals still need to be able to hit the boards.
“As big as we are, we need to be able to rebound, outrebound teams,” McNeal said. “We’re just going to get after people. … We’re going to try and take advantage of our size.”
The big hole Lynnwood has to fill is at point guard with the graduation of Andrew Beatty. McNeal has tapped senior Edward Evans to take over.
“He’s a hard-nosed kid who gets after it,” McNeal said. “He’s just a reliable, solid individual who’s coming out to do what he needs to do to help us win.”
While a 6-10 center is going to be the focal point on offense for most teams, McNeal just wants Fajemisin to be ready for any situation he’ll face this season.
“Simi has improved. He’s played a lot this summer,” McNeal said. “He’s still working on his game. I’m not going to put a lot of pressure on him. … I think he’s capable of putting up big numbers for us. It’s going to be a challenge.
“I see him as a big focus. Every night we’ll see how (opponents) play him.”
If the defense tries to shut Fajemisin down, then look for Meinken, Matzen and Milne to step up their game.
Meinken might be best described as the ultimate blue collar worker.
“He’s big. He’s strong. He hustles,” McNeal said. “He’s quick. He’s a workhorse. He gets after it. He doesn’t give up. He just keeps on going.”
Matzen is a solid shooter, who likes to take the 3-point shot but he also brings versatility to the Royals. McNeal will look to Milne to bring intensity, determination and a solid work ethic.
“He’s dependable,” McNeal said.
Newcomer Bobby Wilson, a senior forward, has stood out among the newcomers to varsity.
“I inherited a good group of kids,” McNeal said. “They work hard together. They’ve played together. They’re just a determined group of guys.”
Lynnwood is coming off a solid season in which the Royals experienced success in the district tournament. Lynnwood was eliminated in the postseason by crosstown rival Meadowdale, who then went on to beat Mount Vernon and advance to the state tournament.
But before the Royals can think about the postseason, they’ll have to battle against some top competition in the Western Conference South Division.
“We understand that our league is very difficult and the challenge they’re under to come out ready to play whether in practice or games,” McNeal said. “We can’t come out soft or lazy. We’ve got to come out focused with high intensity.”
McNeal expects his team to more than hold its own based on how Lynnwood played during the summer.
“We played very well. We competed,” he said. “Our league is tough. It doesn’t matter who you are. You have to come out ready to play. Every night is going to be a tough night.”
One area where Lynnwood hopes to be ahead of the competition is team chemistry. So far the players are working well together and having fun.
“I think that’s going to play a significant impact on wins and losses,” McNeal said.
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