Newton Boys Basketball Coach Sees Impact of Summer Play

Underclassmen gained valuable experience through offseason tournaments.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:56pm

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Newton boys basketball coach Jason Carter believes this summer's offseason basketball will have a big impact on next year's team. This season, Carter played more underclassmen than ever before, with two juniors and a sophomore each starting 17 or more games after combining for just two starts the previous year. Carter credits the players' experience in summer tournaments for preparing them for bigger varsity roles.

Why it matters

Developing young talent through offseason play is crucial for high school basketball programs looking to build for the future. Carter's comments highlight how summer basketball can accelerate the growth of underclassmen and set them up for success at the varsity level.

The details

Carter says the increased playing time for underclassmen this season was a "really big eye-opener" that showed them the difference in physicality and pace from junior varsity to varsity basketball. He plans to have his players compete in more competitive summer tournaments to continue their development and team bonding.

  • This season, Carter played more underclassmen than in any previous year as Newton's head coach.
  • In the 2024-2025 season, the two juniors and one sophomore who started 17+ games this year combined for just two starts.

The players

Jason Carter

The head coach of the Newton boys basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“I think it was a really big eye-opener for a lot of those guys last summer who hadn't played a lot of varsity basketball, showing the difference of the physicality and pace of the game from junior varsity to varsity. So it's going to be really important for us to have a really good summer again. We will get our kids signed up for some competitive tournaments and play over the summer.”

— Jason Carter, Head Coach

What’s next

Carter expects at least four new players to compete for playing time on next year's team.

The takeaway

Investing in offseason development through summer basketball can pay dividends for high school programs looking to build a strong foundation and prepare underclassmen for varsity success.