By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
Sometimes, it's not until January or February that a head coach has a full understanding of the team he's coaching.
For Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) head coach Steve Turner, that realization came in August.
Turner's Gonzaga Eagles played in several Washington, D.C., team events and compiled a record of 35-1, a foreshadowing the team's 13-0 start this winter.
"A lot of our kids play AAU, but we play in two summer leagues here," Turner said. "Our kids play a lot together."
The AAU events and team games in the summer have provided a balance of showcase opportunities and team development.
"AAU has provided opportunities for these kids to get exposure. They try to get as much basketball in as they can, and we work it in as a group," Turner said.
The Eagles have several talented players that have drawn heavy interest from college scouts, including two-sport star Cameron Johnson.
Johnson is a senior leader who can play a number of positions. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, he has been an All-WCAC player in both football and basketball, and will put the pads on for the University of Virginia next fall.
"He's our calming force," Turner said.
Johnson has a lot of help in the frontcourt in the form of Ian Hummer. Hummer is a 6-6 forward who came on strong last year as a sophomore. As a junior, he's been a key weapon for Gonzaga.
"He's very skilled around the basket, with drop steps and up-and-unders," Turner said. "But he can also bring bigger kids out and go around them."
The team's backcourt has been another reason its chalked up victories against league rivals Bishop O'Connell and St. John's, as well as New York's All Hallows and Bishop Loughlin when the team hosted the Gonzaga D.C. Classic.
Guard Max Kenyi (6-3) has improved in each of his three varsity seasons and provides added senior leadership. He will play at Harvard next year. Turner calls him a high energy player who can play above the rim.
Kenyi's partner in the backcourt, Tyler Thornton, could be the most talented player on the entire team. The 6-1 shooting guard, only a sophomore, is already on the radar of many top college programs.
"There's a lot of guards in his class that have been getting national attention - Kendall Marshall (Bishop O'Connell), Eric Atkins (Mt. St. Joseph), Josh Selby (DeMatha). But his (Thornton's) maturity level is beyond his years. He's not worried about the individual accolades, but wants the team to succeed," Turner said.
Despite the Eagles' current success and 13-game winning streak, it will continue to be challenged on a nightly basis by the stiff competition in the WCAC, which also includes Bishop McNamara, Good Counsel and DeMatha - the only team to down the Eagles during the summer.
"It's a league full of battles every night," Turner said. "I'd put our league up against any in the country."
With a schedule packed with tough games and challenging rivals, Gonzaga is worrying most about Ryken - the Eagles' opponent Friday. Turner has groomed his club not to focus on an undefeated season, but a perfect season.
"A perfect season for me is winning the last three games, because that means we win the championship," Turner said.