When Point Loma boys basketball head coach Josh Aros went in search of an assistant coach with a load of experience and knowledge, he didn’t have to look too far.
Aros’ father Dave, a veteran Pointer teacher, football and basketball coach, was eager to dip his toe into the coaching pool once again and has joined his son on the bench where his depth of knowledge and wisdom are a big addition to the Dogs’ staff and give rise to added expectancies for the 2019-20 season as the team plays in holiday tournaments at Sweetwater and Montgomery high schools.
“Having my dad on the bench with us is really a great thing,” Josh Aros said last weekend after his team dropped a close game to El Camino in the Sweetwater Tournament. “He’s such a staple of the community and relates really well to the players. I hope to have him with us for more years.”
The younger Aros has done quite well on his own during his first three years at the helm, posting a 49-34 record for a .590 winning percentage. This year he feels he has the components to take his team to the top of the Eastern League standings and move into CIF Div. II playoffs.
Four of last year’s starters return, part of eight with varsity experience.
Returners include the team’s tallest player, Tyler Morris, a senior forward standing 6-feet 8-inches tall and weighing 235 pounds who is averaging 15.3 points per game in early tournament action. Other returning starters include Jakob DiCarlo (5-feet 9-inches tall senior point guard) and Gabe Harrison (6-feet tall junior wing/point guard), and Blake Ledbetter (6-feet 3-inches tall junior forward/wing). With the addition of Kai Collins (6-feet tall senior wing/point guard), Josh Aros feels he has a solid starting five.
Three other players returned to the hardwood after not playing last season. They include Duce Gourson (6-feet 1-inch tall junior guard), Tristan Shafer (6-feet 1-inch tall senior guard) and Jaylon Brown (5-feet 8-inches tall junior point guard).
When Josh Aros turns to his bench he has added talent in the person of Riley Harris (6-feet 5-inches tall senior forward/wing), Trent Bell (5-feet 10-inches tall junior wing/point guard), Ryan Yoder (6-feet 1-inch tall senior wing/forward), Travis Lewis (6-feet 2-inches tall senior forward/wing) and Austin Johnson (5-feet 11-inches tall senior wing).
The Pointers’ Eastern League foes this year include San Diego High, Scripps Ranch, and Lincoln.
Areas the younger Aros is stressing with his team are its defensive play, guarding the ball, limiting turnovers and continuing to gel as a team.
“We have a lot of good components,” he says, “and if we do these things we can compete with a lot of good teams.”
Last year’s Pointer varsity put up a record of 17-10 and Josh Aros feels this year’s team could exceed that win total. 
“This year’s team is definitely a different group than last year,” he said. “But we’re gelling better and I think once we get everyone playing in their roles I believe we could be very good.”
Part of improving on last year’s record, Josh Aros noted, also included scheduling harder teams during the non-league portion of the schedule as a measuring stick of his team’s progress.
“We have a lot of good pieces and so far we’ve hung with some very good teams,” he concluded. “There’s a few things to clean up but I’m excited to see what this team can do.”