The ASIJ Varsity Basketball team has had an ambitious season under Coach Ryan Naughton. With a strong focus on personal growth, team chemistry, and competitiveness, this year’s Boys Mustang Basketball team is facing challenges head-on, building a path to success on and off the court.

For Coach Naughton, basketball is a lifelong passion. He explains that the primary goals for the team this season are to first “continue to love basketball” and second, “to make sure that you’re doing and loving it for the rest of your life.” 

Coach Naughton also notes basketball’s direct impact on one’s personal development. Beyond raw skill and development, he stresses the importance of personal skills such as perseverance, determination, and sportsmanship. “It’s about being gracious when we win and not too sad when we lose,” he added.

Thus, team captains and underclassmen play a major role in shaping the team. To Coach Naughton, captains are the anchors of the program and are responsible for setting an example in terms of both work ethic and attitude. “Captains set the tone—they’re the ones working the hardest and knowing the offense inside-out,” he shared. 

This season, the team has its sights set on three major tournaments: a tournament in Bangkok, the Kanto Plain Classic at ASIJ, and the Far East Championship in February. Coach Naughton is hopeful due to the team’s early winning streak, which has boosted morale and confidence.

Again, the captains play a crucial role in setting an example to build a strong spirit. A captain’s ability to be resilient in the face of hardship has the power to inspire a team to succeed. Otherwise, a captain can deplete all energy. “If a captain gets down, so will everyone else,” Naughton explained.

Adapting to different team strengths has been key to the Mustangs. For the second consecutive year, the team is playing a similar offensive system but with tailored adjustments to suit their changing skills as players join and leave. This balance of continuity and variability allows both captains and underclassmen to excel in their respective roles; they know what and how to improve based on last year, and they experience new dynamics.

This year, there is a new significant challenge: size. With a loss of three to four inches in height and fifteen pounds compared to last year, the Mustangs have had to adapt their playing style. 

“Last year, we played slower, more set-piece basketball. This year, we’re focusing on playing uptempo—pressing, running, and using our strengths to generate turnovers and layups,” said Coach Naughton.

Shooting is also an area of focus for the Mustangs this year, as the team’s limited practice time due to many breaks has made it difficult to refine shooting accuracy. However, Coach Naughton is optimistic about the post-winter holiday break, when they plan to dedicate much more time to improving their shooting percentages.

One of this season’s qualities that stands out has been the team’s camaraderie. “This team is just super fun. The camaraderie and chemistry are great—better than the past few years,” Naughton revealed. 

He highlights the dynamic across all players, from starters to players on the bench. “Everyone is having fun, and that makes coaching them a joy.” 

As the season progresses, the ASIJ varsity basketball team remains focused on its goals. Coach Naughton is fostering a team that faces challenges with hard work, adaptability, and leadership. The ASIJ community is sure to watch their games during Kanto Classics.