Published December 11, 2025
BY RUBY IRANMANESH
After the 2025 graduation of eight seniors, five of whom were starters, the Carmel High School boys’ varsity basketball team (2-1 through Dec. 9) entered this season with a fresh set of players, eager to continue last year’s legacy, renew team chemistry and have a successful season.
Junior Bearitt Langmann, a transfer from Palma High School, makes his debut in the team’s first scrimmage of the season. Courtesy of GRIFFIN STEELY
The new roster has given younger returning players the opportunity to step into varsity roles for the first time and required the team to focus on building trust and communication.
“Right now we’re just kind of working through a lot of basics and trying to give them all of the building blocks that we’re going to need to help us be successful this season,” says head coach Kurt Grahl. “If we lay good fundamentals to begin with, we can build off of them all year.”
During the 2024-25 season, the varsity team dominated the Pacific Coast Athletic League with a 12-2 record, putting them in first place of the Gabilan Division and giving them the opportunity to compete in the Central Coast Section tournament.
Players who stood out last year include shooting guard Hudson Rutherford, who was a returning 2nd Team All-League Gabilan player, small forward Simeon Brown, who was named Gabilan Division’s Most Valuable Player, and point guard Warren Blut, who earned Gabilan League Offensive Player of the Year and Monterey County Player of the Year.
“The team last year knew what we were doing from day one,” says Grahl. “But this year, everything is just starting from ground zero.”
This season, the players hope that with the right amount of practice and dedication, they will be able to win a significant amount of games like last year and make it to CCS.
Sophomore David Spencer is one of several underclassmen promoted to varsity this season. Photo by GRIFFIN STEELY
In order to do this, Grahl and assistant coaches Hans Schmidt and Aaron Gaily began the season with practices focused on conditioning and skill development so that the new players have time to work on their technique and strategy together. Additionally, they have designed drills that can help build chemistry and communication between the team.
“A lot of our practices consist of just installing offense and trying to develop the correct mindset that the guys are going to need to have for the next four months,” says Schmidt.
In the past, the coaches had an easier time organizing the players into positions and roles because most of the team had years of experience. Schmidt emphasizes that past players like Brown had been in the program for four years so it was much easier to jump into the season because no skill development was necessary.
“This year’s team will have their own new challenges, but they’ll also have their own new strengths,” emphasizes Grahl.
With all of the new faces this year, the coaches are primarily focused on preparing the inexperienced players for games and helping them learn the basic skills necessary to succeed.
“The team is going to struggle at first, but I feel like we will eventually understand how to work with the people
Gabilan Division MVP Simeon Brown leaves his legacy on the court as he now plays football at Idaho State University. Photo by ROB ASHE
we have and figure out how to move forward,” says senior Liam Riddolls, who played in 10 games with varsity last season.
Besides younger players who have moved up to varsity, junior transfer student Bearitt Langmann is another key addition. Coming from Palma High School, Langmann played on Palma’s JV team during his first two years of high school and is now looking forward to starting a new chapter with CHS this season.
“Bearitt is very vocal and is a great addition to the team because he brings a level of vocalization that we haven’t had before,” says Schmidt.
The team will play next in the Breaker Classic on Friday at 8 p.m. at Pacific Grove High School.
