WOODS CROSS С The Woods Cross Wildcats boys’ basketball team will have a lot of familiar faces returning to the court this season, but will have one new face roaming the sidelines in 2012.
After the dismissal of former coach Todd Street, who was the head basketball coach for more than 11 years, Kasey Walkenhurst was named as the newest head coach of the boys’ basketball team in early August.
Walkenhurst, a former player at West Jordan, played varsity basketball for three years and was a two-year starter for the Jaguars. After graduating from high school, Walkenhurst earned an academic scholarship to Salt Lake Community College, then received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and history at Weber State University.
According to a blog set up for the Wildcats’ boys’ basketball team, Walkenhurst began his coaching career at the school where he graduated. While there, Walkenhurst was an assistant coach for the Jaguars for eight seasons, helping to guide the team to a pair of state championship game appearances and winning a 5A state title in 2009.
Woods Cross Athletic Director Rick Winder said at Walkenhurst’s hiring that the team was “very excited to have him” at his new post, and brings a lot of basketball knowledge to a team that finished second in Region 6 last season.
“The most impressive thing about him was his interviews,” said Winder during the summer. “He just showed that he has an amazing mind for the game, and we heard a lot of great things about him before he came in.”
And Walkenhurst will have plenty of players at his disposal when the Wildcats hit the floor for the first time this season. Among those returning to the varsity squad are Brady Cowley, Luke Jowers, Hayden Grant, Filipo Mokofisi, Skyler Farnes, Garrett Grant, Hayden Grant and Jackson Pohlman. Others on the squad are Xequille Harry, Jackson Tolk, Mark Holmes, Parker Holmes, Parker Brown, Mike Jacobsen, Harrison Rogers and Travis Howey.
Cowley and Farnes served as a one-two punch for the Wildcats’ team last season as the team’s top two scorers. Cowley averaged nearly 11 points per game during his junior season and led the team with 48 3-pointers. Farnes was second on the team in scoring with nearly 10.5 points per game. He also averaged nearly three rebounds and two assists per game.
Hayden Grant was third on the team in scoring average with 9.5 points per game and was second on the team in 3-pointers last season. Mokofisi, who averaged 7.7 points per game, also led the team in total rebounds and averaged more than four rebounds per game in 2011.
For more information check out the Nov.15 edition of Davis Clipper.
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