Gabe Wynn (right) with his brother, Sam, and sister Katelyn.
Anthony Smith has seen the future, and he likes it.
The Coupeville High School boys’ basketball coach caught part of a recent Coupeville Middle School 8th grade hoops game and watched the Wolves’ one-two combo of Gabe Wynn and Grey Rische pound on their rivals. And, while he won’t be able to use either player on his squad this season, he’s looking forward to what they might offer the next four years.
“Good looking players. Looking forward to working with both of the big guys,” Smith said.
For now, the pair are playing for Bob Martin, but Wynn, who picked up the round-ball when he was seven, already has thoughts on what he would like to accomplish one day.
“One of my goals for the high school level is to be able to dunk and be the best I can be,” Wynn said.
Wynn generally operates out of either the post or center positions, and is actually a three-sport threat, also playing football and baseball. It’s hoops that remains his passion, though.
“Basketball is my favorite,” Wynn said. “I say that because the feeling of scoring those points and knowing you’re helping your team to victory or making that one great pass.
“I enjoy working together as a team and scoring the points together,” he added. “I think one thing I’m good at is court presence — like being aware of where my teammates are and the defensive players are.”
His goals for the rest of the season (the Wolves play at Langley Tuesday, Nov. 13, their third of eight games) include helping his team to its first victory and holding his composure under fire.
“I need to work on not playing with too much anger, because sometimes I can’t help myself, then I foul,” Wynn said. “But I also want to go harder than I thought I could.”
A fan of video games, dub step and rap, Wynn singles out math at his favorite subject while generally enjoying all of his classes, saying “I like all my teachers. They are all funny and make learning a blast.”
He draws much of his inspiration, on and off the hard court, from his family.
“My parents are always there to support me along the way and are at almost every game,” Wynn said. “One person who has helped me be the person I am today is my grandpa. Sadly he passed away, but he helped push me in basketball and taught me many life lessons.”
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