Prep b BB: LJCDS preview

By Ed Piper

Ryan "Cyborg" Langborg and company are back for La Jolla Country Day's top-ten basketball team, but there has also been a maturing process that Coach Ryan Meier has seen through the ups-and-downs of student transfers and team adjustments over the last two years.

"A big thing from just (being in) my family is relationships (among players)," said Meier after a Monday, Nov. 12, afternoon practice preceding Saturday's season opener against Patrick Henry in the Madison Regional Rumble Tournament.

"This year, more than any other year, we're stressing relationships as a team," the veteran coach said. "We think that will do more than anything else to make us successful as a team."

Langborg, a rangy 6'4" scorer, will bring his offensive skills back as a senior, along with 6'10" center Jayson Taylor and 5'9" guard Ray Lu. The three are all senior captains. Taylor does things that may go unnoticed. His height in the middle has an impact. Without dazzling, he contributes in unexpected ways.

"I also want to include Sam Coleman. He is the single-most hard-working individual on our team," in addition to the three captains, said his coach of the 6'3" junior forward.

"Our team slogan is attack everything this year," said Meier. "We want to attack you on offense. We want to attack you on defense. If it's water break, we want to attack water break. Putting on our shoes, we want to attack putting on our shoes."

Something new to the team is the freshman twins, James and John Hapgood. "They're studs. Absolute studs," said their elated coach. One is 6-foot, the other 6'1" or so. "I don't know which," Meier laughed.

Meanwhile, during a short visit to practice by a sportswriter, Meier and three assistants led the team in free throw drills with three seconds on the clock. Everyone laughed, because the first couple or three free throws didn't drop. "Were you trying to miss?" Meier asked a player. "Yeah," he replied.

The Torreys worked on timed shooting drills--"Make as many as you can" in the allotted time, Meier urged his players. Team members were paired up at all six baskets spread around the perimeter of the inside of the LJCDS gym.

Country Day had another 6'10" player, not listed on the roster, in the gym. No wonder Meier seems to be anticipating the new season with relish. There's height, quickness, experience, the whole package.