Palo Alto High School’s annual student-staff Winter Rally basketball game this Thursday will not feature your typical basketball athletes, but that doesn’t mean that this year’s student basketball team is absent of a drive to win or a love for basketball. The Paly Voice asked the students’ co-head coach Kevin Mullin, a senior guard playing for the boys’ varsity team, which players he wants the crowd to look out for. Here’s the scoop on Mullin’s ‘Fab Five’:
Name: Alex Hwang
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 170 lbs.
Previous basketball experience: Freshmen, JV, Club
Jersey during the game: Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
Goal for the game: “I want to prove to all those who call me ‘malnourished’ that I’m a force to be reckoned with.”
Name: James Giaccia
Height: 6′ 0″
Weight: 175 lbs.
Previous basketball experience: None, just a “dream chaser,” as Giaccia described.
Jersey during game: Allen Iverson
Goal for game: “To go out and show the world what my coach Jackie Moon has been working on with me.”
Name: Gillian Chryst
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight: 147 lbs.
Previous basketball experience: JV, Varsity, Club
Jersey during game: USA
Goal for game: “I just want to have fun with my classmates and give people a show or something to laugh at.”
Name: Will Snodgrass
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 190 lbs.
Previous basketball experience: Jordan Middle School ‘A’ team
Jersey during game: Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors)
Goal for game: “To go hard in the paint.”
Name: Maclean Mansfield
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 175 lbs.
Previous basketball experience: Recreational league in 6th grade
Jersey during game: Golden State Warriors practice jersey
Goal for game: “Hit the buzzer beater to drive the crowd wild.”
Co-head coach Jonny Rojahn will help Mullin lead the team against the staff. Other players include seniors Jason Ballard, Nick Beeson, Jai Correa, Arya Haghighi, Clark Harmon, Harry Halsted, Misha Hindery, John Knowles, Zach Levitan, Jasper McEvoy, Rowan McEvoy, Walker Ritchie, Bryan Wong and Lauren Gargiulo.
The game will take place tomorrow after second period in the Paly Big Gym from 9:50 to 10:30 a.m. This year’s prom location will also be announced during the rally.