Arlington Seguin aiming for state title

By Jarret Johnson

jmjohnson@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON -- Talent, experience, size, depth, chemistry -- Arlington Seguin believes it has all of the ingredients to cook up a run at the state title as the 2012-13 UIL boys basketball season begins.

"We have high expectations this year," Seguin coach Bobby Thigpen said. "At the beginning of the year I told the team we want to win three championships. We want to win the district championship, the regional championship and eventually the state championship -- that's our goal."

The Cougars, who tip off the regular season at 7:30 tonight at home against Arlington, are not arrogant; they are confident and hungry.

Seguin, ranked No. 6 in the TABC Class 4A preseason state poll, is coming off back-to-back playoff losses in the second round.

Last season's 59-56 area-round loss to Fort Worth Arlington Heights at American Airlines Center was especially tough to stomach.

"That's a real big motivation," said Brandon Parrish, a 6-foot-5 wing committed to TCU. "We know that we're better than the second round. Our expectations are state this year, anything below that and we're not going to be satisfied."

Parrish, who averaged 14.1 points, six rebounds and two assists a game last season, is one of four returning starters from last season's team, which finished 28-6.

The Cougars return a pair of all-district performers in the backcourt in point guard Marcus Frazier (6.7 points, 5 assists, 3 steals) and Chris Boleware (7.2 points, 4.8 assists and 2.3 steals). Forward Greg Wesley (14.2 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks), a 6-foot-7 UNT recruit, is also back.

"We got a huge opportunity, we have a lot of talent with four starters coming back," Wesley said. "We have to stay humble, stay focused, stay dedicated, work hard in practice and listen to our coach."

All four said that the surprise addition of 6-7 power forward, Kimani Jackson, a Louisiana-Lafayette commitment, will help make up for the loss of Kelvin Downs to graduation.

"He brings length, blocks shots on defense, he runs the floor well and he's going to help us in transition because we like to push the ball," Frazier said.

Jackson transferred from Plano West over the summer and said the team, most of whom have played together since elementary school, have welcomed him.

Sixth man Richard Holden is coming off a major knee injury suffered in the first round of the playoffs, but has been cleared to play.

Parrish's younger brother, Josh, is a 6-3 freshman who will also add depth to a team that likes to play an up-tempo, pressing style and will be tested by the likes of Lancaster, Waxahachie and Red Oak in District 15-4A.

"I know there is one or two guys in our district who can hoop a little bit, but we have a team full of hoopers," Holden said.

Jarret Johnson, 817-390-7760

Twitter: @JohnsonJarret

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