This winter, the Gorman boys basketball team has been dominating the Nevada 5A division. They are currently ranked No. 2 in the state according to Max Preps, behind Centennial, a team Gorman bested just this preseason.
Leaders such as Nick Jefferson ‘25 and Kameron Cooper ‘27 have been leading the charge against the southern Nevada competition, and unsung heroes such as Kingston Carmona ‘25 have been giving invaluable minutes. Jefferson and Carmona have both also been announced as West McDonald’s All American Game Nominees.
Gorman lost to Coronado in the Big City Showdown 56-62. After leading most of the game, Gorman led by a slim margin with only a few minutes left in the game. However, Coronado was able to turn the tide late in the game to escape with the victory. Gorman then faced Arbor View at home in a bounce back game, where they won 92-70, regaining their footing in the run for the state championship.
Jefferson has been a key player for Gorman the past two years. This year he’s taken considerable strides in not only his game, but his leadership on the floor as well. “My mentality going into every game is ‘make sure my teammates get involved first’,” Jefferson said. “I love passing and getting my teammates involved.”
Carmona has been another vital senior in this year’s run for the state title. Coming from only playing on the freshman team, Carmona’s work ethic has elevated him to the prestigious title of McDonald’s All American Game Nominee. “I knew all along that I was going to get better. So working hard was just a part of the process for me,” Carmona said. Now, he’s the definition of a team player, making winning plays every time he steps on the floor. However Carmona acknowledged the challenges they face this year, with the competition being at an all time high. “Everyone’s going to have to contribute in every game and we are going to get the best shot from everyone.” Carmona said.
A player that has been contributing plenty every single game is Cooper. The now sophomore has been a dominant force on both ends of the floor. “I really just look for myself just to play hard and be aggressive,” Cooper said. “100% of the time just look at the same for my teammates, I look for them to take the open shots, play extremely hard and just play for each other.”
It’s going to take that the rest of the year for the Gorman to reach the mountain top again and repeat as state champions. “We’re just going to continue to play hard for each other and compete with each other and do everything for each other because we’re a family.” Cooper said.
