By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
When you look at the dominance of the Running Scots over the last seven years under former head coach Mike Williams, there's no question that’s the standard this program wants to uphold.
Nate Wallace (right), cheering during the 2025 Class 5A state tournament, takes over as Highland Park's new boys basketball coach this season. [File photo/TSN]
Names like Bo Aldridge, Ja'Corey Robinson, Mikey Williams, Tre Richardson, Tamir Anderson, the list goes on of the overall talent this program develops.
All those names and more are no longer there and first-year head coach Nate Wallance is excited to be rooted to this program and continue that winning culture.
“Me and coach Mike come from the same era and we’re both grinders,'' Wallace said. "Iron sharpens iron, just bouncing stuff off each other. I think the best thing to happen was the state runs. We had just to be around other great coaches to see how they prepared for games.''
Now, how do the Scots plan to keep the DNA where they have those dominant players?
“I think it starts early,'' Wallace said. "It’s trust, it’s family. There’s a lot of great young talent in the city and giving the kids the opportunity to want to bleed the red and green. The good thing about the East side of Topeka, they know the history and want to be a part of it.''
G’Honi Montgomery, Kasioun Drew, Davian Anderson and JoJo Kingcannon are the names that will be the leaders of this year's group according to Wallace.
“Coach Nate, his IQ is through the roof and he definitely knows what he’s doing,'' Kingcannon said. "He’s definitely going to put us all in the right position to make great choices.
“The one thing about HP, we’re always going to have dawgs on this team. No matter if we lose or win, we’re still going to be dawg and go compete.”
The speed and grit of the Running Scots will be their story because they don’t have much size this season, but Wallace is confident his team can overcome that.
“During my interview, I told them I wanted to focus on character,'' Wallace said. "It’s academics first, being a student-athlete and that’s where I’m at. I want these kids to understand the integrity of being a good person, staying out of trouble, staying in the classroom and basketball will take care of itself. We’re really focused on discipline.”
Kingcannon said all the Scots are shooting for the same goal and the connection is still there. Now, they have to show that against competition and everyone on the team has something to prove.
“Stay locked in, there’s going to be dawg days, it’s not going to be easy, but if we keep putting the work in, we’re going to be fine,” Kingcannon said.
