Head coach: Chris Dyer
2011-12 record: 33-6, Class 5A regional finalist
Duke verbal commit Matt Jones hopes to cap a decorated high school career by leading DeSoto to a state title.
Photo by Jim Redman
(6-5, Sr., G, Duke verbal commit),
Terry Maston (6-6, Jr., F),
Devin Wyatt (6-5, Jr., F),
Takedrick Brown (5-9, Jr., G)
Strengths: The Eagles are led by a special guard in Jones, who has already delivered a verbal pledge to Duke. Jones was a
MaxPreps Junior All-American a year ago after producing 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. The DeSoto star is also a longtime summer teammate of
Prestonwood Christian star
Julius Randle. Junior forwards Maston and Wyatt put themselves on the radar of college programs over the summer and should give the Eagles a major inside presence. DeSoto will get an early test at the McDonald's Texas Invitational – a mega-showcase for Texas public schools outside of Houston. The Eagles also travel to the HighSchoolOT Holiday Invitational in North Carolina in December, a bit of a preview for Duke fans wanting a glimpse of Jones.
Question marks: Dyer led DeSoto to state titles in 2003 and 2009. Is Jones' supporting cast up to the task of helping the highly respected coach notch No. 3? The state's coaches seem to think so, as the Eagles appeared at No. 2 in the Class 5A preseason rankings, just behind 2012 state runner-up
Fort Bend Travis (Richmond).
