How the boys basketball team strives to achieve greatness.
Barstow boys basketball is in the heat of preparation for its first games of the season. In addition to several incoming freshmen and some new players, the team is also adapting to its new coaching staff, led by Coach BJ Watson.
Coach BJ comes to Barstow from Montverde Academy in Florida, the reigning National Champions. He spent last season learning how to train high-profile players from a Hall of Fame coach, and he believes his experience with that team has given him the foundation he needs to build a career of his own and reach similar heights. Barstow is lucky that he chose to come back home to pursue those aspirations.
Although it has come with a lot of nerves, Coach BJ’s transition to Barstow has gone really well, “Barstow has been very welcoming and showered me with love. I try my best to give that same love back to the kids and staff,” he says. In addition to being the boys varsity head coach, he’s also taken on the role of Middle School Athletic Director.
Soren Gupta ‘26 agrees that Coach BJ’s integration has gone smoothly, “He’s already closely knit in the Barstow community” because he coaches kids from multiple parts of the school, allowing him to spread his infectious energy to an even larger crowd.
Barstow boys basketball is a family affair this year, as Coach BJ brought his older brother, Coach Neil Watson, to be the assistant Varsity coach, his younger brother, Coach AJ Watson, to be the JV head coach, and his cousin, Coach Rob Kersee, to coach the C Team.
Several of the players express that they really like the coaching staff this year. While they’re able to joke around with Coach AJ, Coach Rob and Coach Neil provide the team with the discipline it will need to succeed this season.
According to varsity team captain Will Carter ‘25, the team chemistry has already improved significantly with the addition of Coach BJ, “He’s cool, and we can relate to him, which leads us to listen to him more. He gives us a strong team connection and boosts our chemistry and energy overall,” he explains. His dedication to the welfare of his players contributes to creating a good team environment.
The most important thing to Coach BJ is showing his players that he cares for them as people, not just the skills they can bring to the team. He tries his best to support them in all aspects of life, even if they play other sports, “I want to show them that I love them however they are, not for the sport that they play,” he says. “Once they realize that ‘Okay, Coach trusts and believes in me,’ I feel they’ll give me their best effort on the court.” Equality among the team is something else that Coach BJ strongly believes in. He wants all players, regardless of skill level, to feel like they’re seen and that their effort matters. Skills can be built upon and improved with practice.
These efforts haven’t gone to waste, either. The boys have seen how much he’s tried to show them their value, “He’s a great coach for the younger guys. He tries hard to show us that everyone has an equal opportunity, which helps a lot,” explains Daniel Wang ‘25.
To bring out the best in his team, Coach BJ gave them a motto: greatness.
“Greatness came from within,” during his time at Montverde. There’s a wall in their gym filled with players who have made it from their school to the NBA, and “being in that kind of environment where people are trying to get on that wall” is what inspired the motto.
However, greatness doesn’t only come from one’s performance on the court. Building a good reputation in the school community is equally important to both improve one’s character, but also for those looking to be noticed by college scouts and what will give one the opportunity to reach greatness later on in their careers.
One way the team is looking to achieve this is through team leadership, “We have a big group of younger guys, and Coach is relying on older players to get them ready for the varsity level,” explains Carter. “Coach needs leaders who have been at that level before to guide them to get to that speed and lock in for the season.” Carter has enjoyed taking on the role of team captain so far, and he’s looking forward to seeing how the role progresses over the season.
Leadership is expected to come from everyone on the team, however, regardless of their experience. It’s the foundation they need to continue to foster a strong work ethic and build brotherhood.
In the preparation they’ve been able to do so far, the boys have worked hard to learn new plays, integrate new players, and build upon their skills to face rivals and big-name schools this year.
“We have to beat Pembroke and Summit Christian at Homecoming,” says Robert Waldeck ‘27, two schools which Barstow has had outstanding competition with for years.
Blue Valley North is one of the bigger opponents on the team’s radar, “They put us at the early end of their schedule because they think we’re going to be an easy game, so Coach is really honing in on proving them wrong,” says Gupta. Starting off with good momentum will also help the team make a deeper push into the playoffs, something that Carter is looking to rectify after the season-ending upset against Saint Michael the Archangel last season.
Bishop Miege has also been added to their schedule this year, and it will be a big game for both the players and coaches. Coach BJ reminisces about the times when he got to watch his brother compete against them in high school, and he’s “really excited for the history surrounding Miege and to face a team with that kind of a legacy.”
One thing the team wants to be sure the community does not misunderstand is their capability. Although they lost seniors from last season who went on to play college basketball, there’s still old and fresh talent on the team.
“Contrary to what some people might think, this is not sweet. We will be doing a lot of things you didn’t see last year; we’ll be faster, we’ll be more entertaining, and we’ll have a good year because we have the pieces that we need to do so,” Carter says. To see that success, however, “you’re just going to have to come out and watch it.”
The team wants to show the community the love that they have for the sport and showcase the talent they’ve achieved through their work ethic, “We’re hungry to win, and we’re out there every day,” says Gupta. They’d love to see the stands packed for all their games, but home games especially. Standing room only, if possible.
It’s the support the community can bring to the team that will further guarantee a good season and fuel their drive for competition. However, as Waldeck reminds us, it’s not just the varsity team that needs our help, “The girls team needs it, JV needs it, C team needs it, and so do the cheerleaders. All of us put in the work to produce for the school, so try to support everybody to make this season a great one all around.”
Lastly, Wang wants you to remember that “we stand by our motto: greatness,” so let’s do our part to help them achieve it.
