PORT TOWNSEND — It’s a new era with a number of first-year varsity players under new East Jefferson boys basketball head coach Adam Washburn.

A competitive weight lifter, Washburn

“We love to play loose and fun offensive basketball,” Washburn said. “We want to play with pace, we want to get early shots, defend the heck out of you and play relaxed and free on offense.

“We will struggle when we lose focus on what we want to do and how we want to play.”

Washburn inherited a roster with a pair of varsity returners.

“We have Tray Brown — a a two year letter winner who is super skilled and can shoot the ball really well,” Washburn said.

Fellow senior John Richard Mercado also saw the floor last season.

“John has a bit of a different background,” Washburn said. “He grew up in Guam and plays with a different style, a different rhythm than our other guys.”

Freshman Luke O’Hara will shoulder much of the scoring burden for the Rivals.

“Luke is fantastically skilled for his height and he’s still growing,” Washburn said. “I’ve been lucky enough to coach him for the last two years. His position is the best player, not a guard or a wing. As a team we have to decrease his ball-handling load and get him in spots where he can be an attacker. His family has invested in his basketball career. He’s a fantastic kid, too.”

Sophomore Asher Little shows plenty of potential, Washburn said.

“Asher can stretch the floor and shoot it,” Washburn said. “He’s similar to his dad, Alex was a slow growth/late bloomer kind of a guy. Eighteen months ago Asher was a 5-9 beanpole, now he’s 6-1, 6-2 and his ceiling looks like his dad 6-6, 6-7 and can get on and off the floor.

“It’s super early in his development and in his first varsity game his heartrate was going about 180 miles an hour. That’s the moment he’s wanted in his life.”

Rene Martin will offer defensive pressure.

“Rene is an outstanding defender,” Washburn said. “He has a soccer background. Multi-sport athletes like him, fast, long-armed super strong, might not be a basketball player by trade but he’s an athlete and will help us.”

Landon Hoppe, another 6-2 sophomore provides depth.

“Landon is like Asher’s clone,” Washburn said. “He’s long armed can shoot, a good on-ball defender and hes one of those kids that can tie his shoes without bending down.”

Washburn was pleased with Jared Diaz-Zavalza’s summer conditioning work.

“Jared had a fantastic summer in the weight room,” Washburn said. He and Dillon [Page-Castillo] will share the five role for us.”

Reigning Nisqually League champion Annie Wright lost the 1A state championship by a bucket to Zillah last March. The Gators are even better this season, dispatching Class 3A powerhouse Rainier Beach on the Vikings’ home court to open the season and beating Tacoma private school rival 4A Bellarmine Prep last week.

“They have a D1 guy [guard Martin Kaupanger has committed to Indiana State] and are extremely talented,” Washburn said. “We would like to have a pipeline like that and have kids play the same style and system from fifth grade on.”

East Jefferson Rivals

• Head coach: Adam Washburn, first season.

• 2023-24 record: 9-11, 8-8 (fifth in Nisqually, lost in district playoffs).

•­ Key returners: Traycen Brown (Sr., G, 5-9); John Richard Mercado (Sr., G, 5-9).

• Newcomers: Rene Martin (Jr., G, 5-10); Asher Little (So., G/F, 6-2); Luke O’Hara (Fr., F, 6-3); Reese Williamson (Fr., G, 5-10); Dillon Page-Castillo (Jr., F, 6-1); Landon Hoppe (So., F, 6-2); Jared Diaz-Zavalza (Jr., F, 6-2); Kaleb Kruse (So., G, 5-9); Reese Williamson (Fr., G, 5-10).

• Strengths: Young team with a lot of interchangeable parts.

• Areas to improve: Rebounding on both ends of the floor. Team is undersized and will need to outwork other teams on the glass.

• Outlook: Washburn is aiming for the postseason.

“Competitive success for us is being in the top half of the league,” Washburn said. “Making the playoffs in the Nisqually would be a pretty successful year. Play beyond the end of the regular season and see where it takes us.”

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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladailynews.com.

Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News East Jefferson’s Traycen Brown drives while defended by Cascade Christian’s Josiah Gopaul during a 2023-24 contest at Chimacum High School.