New-look Windermere Prep hoops team aiming to hit stride | Observer Preps

There’s no way around it.

When a program enters the season expecting to have the No. 20 junior basketball player in the nation (as ranked by ESPN) on its roster — and then does not have that player — there figures to be some necessary adjustments.

Such is the case with Windermere Prep, which entered the 2017-18 season with Balsa Koprivica as part of its program. The level of competition on the Lakers’ schedule underscores the fact that the team anticipated having the 7-foot-1 center with the skills of a guard.

When Koprivica’s name became unofficially linked to the ongoing FBI investigation into college basketball recruiting that rocked the sports world, the Lakers opted to hold the talented student out of competition until they could be sure having him suit up and play would not result in any forfeits or fines from the FHSAA.

The delay apparently wore on Koprivica, as he transferred to Montverde Academy over the holiday break and debuted for the nation’s top high-school basketball team — which is an independent and does not compete in the FHSAA State Series — on Jan. 11 in a nationally televised game against Orlando Christian Prep.

Now navigating a rugged schedule, the Lakers are 9-9 and angling to hit their stride before district tournaments begin Feb. 12.

“We’re playing a really hard schedule, so we told the kids, ‘Don’t get your head down — we’re going to take some lumps early on,’” head coach Ben Wilson said. “They keep a good attitude.”

The changing dynamic has meant relying on standouts Rahsaan Lewis and Shaquan Jules — Windermere Prep’s top scorer and rebounder, respectively — even more than originally anticipated.

“We kind of go as those two (Lewis and Jules) go,” Wilson said. “(Lewis) can make big-time plays at both ends. ... Shaq slows it down a little bit. He's more methodical in his game, and he can have his way with people.”

Beyond Lewis and Jules, the Lakers have had to rely on unexpected players to step up — players such as junior newcomer Michael Gavin and freshman Zavien Williams.

“Michael Gavin came in and he’s been pretty solid,” Wilson said. “He’s still trying to get used to our style and what we expect out of him, but he’s shown a lot of promise and a lot of good glimpses. … Our freshman, Zavien Williams, has a really good motor and a lot of energy — he’s one of the younger guys that we had to kind of thrust in and play more than I expected to, but it’s been a good experience.”

Despite their .500 record as of Jan. 15, the Lakers are 2-0 in Class 5A, District 6, with wins over district rivals Jones and Lake Highland Prep to their credit. 

The remaining six regular-season games on Windermere Prep’s schedule hold no promise of an easy road. 

Remaining opponents include The First Academy, Leesburg, Trinity Prep and Central Florida Christian Academy.

If the Lakers are to find success — and their stride — in that time, Wilson has a good idea of what his team will need to demonstrate to make a postseason run.

“Poise,” Wilson said. “Having the mental side of it. … It’s up and down. I’ve seen times where they have battled and shown that character.”