OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, TWCA HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH TALENTED FLOOR GENERALS.
There was Bakari Lastrap, who led the Warriors to a pair of TAPPS State Titles from 2016-2020. The VYPE Private School Player of the Year now plays at Midwestern State.
Then came Austin Benigni, who won a pair of State Titles in basketball and was also a VYPE Player of the Year. His high motor and basketball IQ landed him at the Naval Academy, where he played in all 31 games last year as a freshman.
The baton has been passed to Tres Luzey, who has built a solid resume at TWCA but wants more.
“I worked out with Bakari and Austin over the summer and they just kept preaching hard work,” he said. “I learned from them that it’s all about attention to detail and never taking a practice rep off. You always have to be thinking of the end goal.”
His goal as a senior is to win another title for the green and gold.
“Coach (Jason Tocabens) reminds us that we are going to get everyone’s best shot, every night,” he said. “Teams are coming after us because of our history. We can’t take any team for granted, but our goal remains the same...a State Championship. Our chemistry is there, and we all are locked in on the same goal.”
Luzey took the offseason and summer to work on his game entering his senior season.
“Playing AAU with FAM Elite really helped my game this summer, but hitting the weight room was the biggest difference,” he said. “After last season, I knew I had to get stronger if I wanted to play at the next level. I worked a lot with our strength coach Tim Walker on my explosiveness and getting people off of me. I just needed to get more physical.”
Studying guards like Steph Curry, Trae Young, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and LeBron James, Luzey tries to bring an element of each of those superstars’ games.
“When I’m not watching tape, I’m hanging with friends or playing NBA2K and Fortnite,” he said. “But my real love is just playing ball. I’m going to do it as long as I can.”
With Division I schools vying for his talent, it looks like he won’t be stopping any time soon.