Team Preview: Deep Run

<div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Classification</strong>: VHSL 5A South</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Conference: </strong>11</span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Curt Kassab</span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Last Season</strong>: 19-7. Finished Runner Up in Conference 11; Lost in OT to eventual state champion Henrico</span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Key Games</strong>: 11/25 @ Monacan; 12/9 @ Hermitage; 12/18-12/20 RTD Invitational; 1/13 @ Henrico</span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Key Losses</strong>: Aaron Simmons, Blake King, Patrick McNerney, Eli Gray</span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Key Returners</strong>: Georgie Pacheco (12.7 ppg), DaMontez Oliver (Campbell commit), Harry Trippeer (7 ppg), Evan Clark (7.5 ppg), Curtis Cooper</span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Key Newcomers</strong>: Kimani Donovan, Garrett Whitley, Zach Washburn, Michael McNerney, Chris Dean</span></em></div> <div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Projected Starting Lineup</strong>: </span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">PG: Georgie Pacheco </span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">WG Curtis Cooper</span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">WF Da’Montez Oliver</span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">WF Evan Clark</span></em></div> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">C Harry Trippeer</span></em></div> <div> </div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Curt Kassab has a legacy for turning programs into winners, and has done so at both the collegiate and high school level in both girls and boys basketball. Only four seasons into his reign at Deep Run, Kassab has turned the Wildcats into perennial contenders, with two straight trips to the Conference 11 Championship game, including an overtime loss to eventual state champion Henrico last season, and they have perhaps their deepest lineup yet in the Kassab era.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">In typical fashion though, Kassab says the key to their success, along with possibly their biggest deterrent, will be keeping everyone happy with only one basketball.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">“If we succeed this season, it will be with discipline, execution and hard work,” Kassab said. “Our focus is always on team basketball and ensuring we play selfless basketball.”</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">With four seniors leading the way, the Wildcats are in a position to make a run against conference rival and defending state champions Henrico this season. They’ll be led for the third straight season by senior point guard Georgie Pacheco, who’s fresh off a stint playing for the Puerto Rican 17U National Team this summer. A tough shot maker that is able to create for himself and others, and his intelligence and basketball IQ makes him a great choice to run a team.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">“The thing that makes Georgie special and unique is his ability to make everyone on the floor better,” Kassab said in an interview over the summer. “He has a great skill set with no weaknesses and he also has an extremely high basketball IQ.”</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Pacheco has some big help on the wing this season too, with Campbell commit DaMontez Oliver who joined Deep Run during the second semester and helped them in their postseason run. The 6’5 senior wing blew up this summer on the recruitment trail, and his mix of size, athleticism and perimeter skill set allows him to play and impact at multiple positions for the Wildcats.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Rounding out the senior group are two blue collar, high motor types in 6’2 wing Evan Clark and 6’5 big Harry Trippeer. Clark, who plays as hard as anyone in the state, is a lock down defender who takes pride in shutting down the best player on the opposing team, while Trippeer is a gritty post that is always keeping the ball alive on the offensive glass.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Add in two playmaking junior guards in Curtis Cooper and Kimani Donovan, along with a few other role players in forward Garrett Whitley and guard Zach Washburn, the Wildcats have a solid foundation to compete with the best in the state.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">“We hope to be competitive in both Conference 11 and the region,” Kassab said. “Our goal is always to play one game at a time and peak toward the end of the season.”</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Deep Run opens their season on the road against what should be a tough Monacan team on 10/25, however every one will be anticipating their 1/13 matchup at Conference 11 rival Henrico in what should be a highly intense game.</span></div>