Team Preview: Mustang (6A)
In this article:
Mustang returns most of its players from 2020, including guards Ethan Scott Ethan Scott 5'10" | PG Mustang | 2022 State OK and Jacobe Johnson Jacobe Johnson 6'3" | SG Mustang | 2023 State OK , who led the state…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMustang returns most of its players from 2020, including guards Ethan Scott Ethan Scott 5'10" | PG Mustang | 2022 State OK and Jacobe Johnson Jacobe Johnson 6'3" | SG Mustang | 2023 State OK , who led the state in scoring among sophomores and freshmen, respectively.
“We’ve got a chance to have a pretty good year,” coach Scott Hodges said. “The majority of our team is back.”
Scott, heralded as perhaps the best sharpshooter in the state, is expected to produce from the 3-point-line in his second year at Mustang, while Johnson is expected to help the Broncos scoring from the mid-range and attacking the rim.
“I think the great thing about those two is their game compliments each other really well.” Hodges said. “It was obvious at times, last year, they had never played together. . . they’re still a work-in-progress as far as learning to play off of each other.
We think they could become the best duo in the state of Oklahoma in the next few years,” Hodges said.
Hodges said that Mustang’s corps of role players has improved since 2020. Jacob Henderson, a 6-foot-7-inch junior forward, will provide an interior advantage for the Broncos.
“Jacob played a lot last year, but he’s really gotten better,” Hodges said. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger, filled out his body, really worked hard in the weight room, finishing around the rim a lot better. . . he’s got a lot of potential.”
Sophomore guard Keegan Bass Keegan Bass 5'10" | PG Mustang | 2023 OK also returns after playing significant minutes as a freshman.
“Kergan really had some good games last year, and he learned a lot,” Hodges said.
CJ Young, the only senior in the Broncos’ rotation, will be a new face to Hodges’s lineup this season.
“CJ didn’t play a whole bunch as a junior but we think he’s going to have a really good year for us,” Hodges said.
Hodges also noted junior Reese Strange, junior Austen Smith, sophomore Bryson Sharp and junior Kaden Bogard as role players who will receive pivotal playing time.
“We’re gonna be a deep team, we feel like we can probably play nine, 10, 11 guys if we need to,” Hodges said. “I always tell our guys, ’the strength of our team is our team,’ you know, our depth and being able to have guys that can hurt you on any given night.”
Hodges noted defense as being a key factor to Mustang’s potential success.
“We feel like we’re gonna score the ball with a lot of people,” Hodges said, “but being able to stop people has been our focus in the offseason.”
Shot-selection and group cohesion are also important traits for the Broncos, Hodges said.
“We struggled at times last year, we took really bad shots, our selection was questionable,” Hodges said. “We didn’t always trust each other.
“I think this year having great possessions and playing as a team are the most important things for us,” Hodges finished.