Third-ranked Trinity looks to end Louisville's drought of KHSAA basketball championships
It might be surprising to some — given all the individual talent coming out of the city — that Louisville has produced just two boys basketball state champions since 2006.
Trinity owns both of those titles — 2012 and 2019 — and looks to be in the running to bring the big trophy back to the city in March.
The Shamrocks return three starters from last season’s 24-8 squad and hope to have two talented newcomers eligible soon. They’re ranked No. 3 in the state in The Courier Journal’s preseason poll of coaches.
“I’m fine with it,” senior guard Drae Vasser said of the ranking. “We have some new additions, and we have some hungry guys back from last year. You guys can rank us wherever. We’re not trying to be the best team in November. We’re trying to cut down the nets in March.”
Trinity hasn’t returned to the Sweet 16 since that 2019 state title and must navigate the always-rugged Seventh Region to end that drought.
The region includes four other teams ranked among the top 25 in the state: No. 6 Male, No. 17 Ballard, No. 19 St. Xavier and No. 23 Manual.
Shamrocks coach Mike Szabo likes his team’s chances.
“I think we have a potentially talented team,” he said. “If they show up every day and do what’s asked and give the best they can, I believe we can compete with everybody in Kentucky.”
Here are three things to know about the Shamrocks entering the 2023-24 campaign. Trinity will open its season Nov. 28 at No. 14 DeSales.
Three starters returning
Vasser, a 6-foot-1 guard, led Trinity in scoring (13.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg) last season and earned Szabo’s respect in his first season after transferring from Jeffersontown.
“I really respect how much he loves basketball," Szabo said. “He’s such a good, solid all-around player who can impact the game in so many ways. Last year he was our leading rebounder, and you don’t do that without a great motor.”
Vasser has scholarship offers from Akron, Bellarmine and Jacksonville State.
He missed most of the summer with a stress fracture in his right foot, spending much of his time away from basketball in a swimming pool in order to maintain his conditioning.
“It was hard not being able to play my last year of AAU, but I needed (the rest) if I was going to be able to keep playing this game that I love,” he said.
The other returning starters are 6-5 Jayden Johnson (10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg) — one of the state’s top prospects in the Class of 2026 — and 6-4 senior Alex Johnson (6.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg).
Cam McClain (Thomas More) and C.J. Walls (Hanover) graduated and now are with college programs.
Two transfers from Western
One of the biggest stories from a summer filled with transfers was Julius Edmonds and Josiah Lawson landing at Trinity from Western.
Edmonds, a 6-6 junior, averaged 11.6 points and 8.4 rebounds last season and has scholarship offers from Ohio and Southeast Missouri State. Lawson, a 6-0 junior point guard, averaged 8.8 points and shot 40.5% from 3-point range (32 of 79).
Szabo said Friday that neither Edmonds nor Lawson has been ruled eligible by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and that he had “no idea” when the appeal process would be completed.
Vasser said Edmonds and Lawson will make the Shamrocks better.
“They’re some kids who know how to play and play with toughness,” Vasser said. “That’s what coaches want. They played for a very good Western team, and it just takes our team to another level.”
The sting of last season's ending
Trinity just missed a regional championship last season, falling to Male 67-65 in double overtime in the Seventh Region final.
For the players who returned, that loss is motivation.
“Coach reminds us every single day,” Vasser said. “I try to put it in the past, but I also use it as motivation. We use it as fuel. We don’t want to come up short again. We were just one or two plays away.”
Alex Johnson said the loss taught the Shamrocks they need to be tougher in big moments.
“We don’t talk about it too much, but it fuels us,” he said. “We still remember it."
More: Top Kentucky boys basketball teams and players in the Seventh Region for 2023-24 season
Reach Jason Frakes at jfrakes@courier-journal.com and follow him on X @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA basketball: Can No. 3 Trinity return state title to Louisville?
