The featured standouts of the 2026-27 Second Baptist School basketball team.
Photo by Alex Hinson (VYPE)
4. The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors
5. Westbury Christian Wildcats
Others to Watch: Concordia Lutheran Crusaders, Cypress Christian Warriors, Fort Bend Christian Academy Eagles, Lutheran South Academy Pioneers, St. Francis Episcopal Wolves, St. John XXIII Lions, St. Thomas Eagles, St. Thomas Episcopal Saints, The John Cooper School Dragons, The Kinkaid School Falcons, The Village School Vikings
Houston Christian Mustangs
Photo by Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
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1. Second Baptist Eagles
Coach Taylor Land has seemingly mastered the art of winning at Second Baptist. In just two seasons at the helm, he's guided the Eagles to back-to-back TAPPS State Championships, and with another loaded roster taking shape on Woodway Drive, a three-peat is well within reach. At the center of it all is Reese Alston, the nation's top point guard and reigning Guy V. Lewis Award winner. The son of former NBA guard Rafer Alston, Reese possesses a rare basketball pedigree, complemented by the court vision and playmaking prowess that make the Eagles' offense tick. And there's no shortage of talent surrounding him. Oral Roberts commit Will Goolsby provides elite perimeter shooting, while junior Kaiden Smith brings physicality inside. Eastern Michigan commit Brodrick Wyatt arrives from the Legacy School of Sports Sciences, adding another dimension to an already formidable lineup. Seniors Aaron Smith and Jude Brown, alongside junior Noah Lewis, should also see elevated roles. “This group has the rare combination of competitive spirit, talent and love for their teammates,” Land said. A demanding national schedule should offer an early measure of just how dangerous this group can be. Two titles down. One more would put Second Baptist in rare company.
2. Houston Christian Mustangs
Five Southwest Preparatory Conference championships have established coach Ron Crandall's program as a powerhouse. Now, the Mustangs are loaded for another title chase in 2026-27, with their sights set on adding another trophy to the collection. Landon Veal is coming off a breakout season and has the ability to turn an ordinary possession into a highlight-reel moment. Joining him up front is Emmanuel Nwabuoku, a 6-foot-10 junior transfer from Strake Jesuit. A nationally recruited prospect with an impressive skill set, Nwabuoku gives the Mustangs a formidable presence in the paint. The backcourt is just as promising. Will Arriaga brings a deft shooting touch, while JoJo McGowen and Lincoln Wheeler provide the ball-handling and playmaking to keep the offense flowing. Aiden Pitcaithly is also expected to take on a bigger role at guard this winter. With talent across the board and Crandall at the helm, the Mustangs have all the ingredients for another championship pursuit. The objective is clear: defend their crown and make it six SPC titles.
3. Episcopal Knights
Coach Wayne Jones has been a fixture in Greater Houston basketball for over two decades, and his résumé speaks for itself: more than 700 career wins, a successful stint transforming Strake Jesuit into a force and a reputation for making Episcopal a household name in Texas private-school hoops. With Jones at the helm, the Knights are never a team to overlook. The headliner this season is Alim Olajuwon — yes, the nephew of Houston basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon. Alim possesses a versatile skill set, combining the athleticism to thrive in the backcourt with the strength to battle inside, making him a dynamic weapon on both ends of the floor. Mason Cormier and Jordan Goffney provide shifty playmaking at guard, while Caleb Clay and Nyle Harrison will be tasked with handling business in the paint. The pieces are there for Episcopal to make some noise in a competitive private-school landscape. Rival Houston Christian presents a formidable challenge, but counting out a Wayne Jones-coached squad is never a wise move.
4. The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors
Coach Jason Tocabens and his TWCA Warriors went 16-10 last winter, swept its district at 6-0, won a regional championship and reached the TAPPS 5A Final Four before falling to Second Baptist. Senior wing Tyler Dalton, a 6-foot-3 honorable mention all-state pick and first-team all-district selection, headlines the returning core alongside senior point guard Preston Kieschnick and senior forward Jack Krantzcke. Dominic Carnes will also play a big role this season. Sophomore guard Karter McQueen-Moore adds youth.
5. Westbury Christian Wildcats
Few programs in Texas carry Westbury Christian’s basketball pedigree — 20-plus TAPPS state championships — and last winter the Wildcats looked like themselves again. Westbury went 31-9, finished 9-2 in district and avenged a one-point district tiebreaker loss to St. Thomas Episcopal with a 77-63 win over the Saints in the TAPPS 4A state semifinals. A scoreless third quarter doomed them in the final, a 49-31 loss to McKinney Christian, but the trip to Waco restored the standard. Head coach Ansu Sesay — the former Ole Miss SEC Player of the Year and NBA forward — now leads the program, with guard Carter Guillory among the names to watch.
GET YOUR COPY OF THE 2026–27 VYPE HOUSTON BASKETBALL MAGAZINE HERE!
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