Boys Basketball: It's Keegan Shettles' show now for Plano

Keegan Shettles is used to a role in Plano’s supporting cast.

It’s his show now.

Shettles, a 6-foot-4 senior, was moved into the starting lineup during the stretch run last season. The Reapers matched a program record for wins, and won conference and regional championships.

Shettles, though, is virtually the only player returning from that 23-7 team with any varsity experience. Needless to say, it’s his time to shine.

“Everything right now starts with Keegan,” Plano coach Kyle Kee said. “He’s getting used to being that guy. He embraces it, but it’s been an adjustment.”

Shettles averaged 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds as a junior, numbers he should easily surpass this season. Kee said he’s improved his 3-point shot, and Shettles could initiate the offense. With Shettles’ length, he could be a disruptive force on the defensive end.

“If we can get him on the open floor, we should be good,” Kee said. “He has taken steps forward.”

Plano took its lumps during the summer, but Kee believed it served a necessary purpose.

“We pushed them pretty hard, and I think we got their attention,” Kee said. “These guys have put in some hard work. They’ve been in the weight room, attendance in the fall was great, working hard. We’re not as star-driven as we have been with some guys that can do it on their own, but we are pretty deep.”

Kajon Smith, a 6-3 junior forward, is one of those guys who didn’t miss a day in the weight room. He’s another who could key Plano’s trapping defense.

“He loves basketball, he loves to shoot and he can score in a lot of different ways,” Kee said.

Demond Williams, a 5-11 junior, is quick with a good handle, and can be crafty around the basket. He’ll likely be Plano’s point guard.

Michael Baltazar, a 5-10 senior, has shiftiness that could help the Reapers and 6-1 senior Andy Velasquez is a shooter that’s got a lot bigger.

Kee is also expecting big things out of Damien Barraza, a 5-8 sophomore guard who moved in from Oswego. Nic Woodhouse is a 6-2 post who can score inside. Bryson Schmidt and Torry Jackson are two others that will be in the mix.

Plano graduated a lot, but its sophomore team did win 20-plus games and the conference tournament.

The Reapers don’t open their season until Dec. 1, at Reed-Custer. Plano’s home opener is the next day against Yorkville.

“I think we got some guys that have the potential, but it’s about getting there,” Kee said. “It’s a bunch of athletes. We got some guys that can play, we got some guys that can shoot, we got some guys who can jump. It’s about molding them together.”