Plymouth’s new boys hoops coach is familiar with P-CEP environment

If the Plymouth High School boys basketball team’s win total can rise this season at even a fraction of the rate the miles on new head coach Andrew Meeuwsen’s vehicle’s odometer pile up, it should be a successful campaign for the Wildcats.

Hired in June to succeed longtime coach Mike Soukup, Meeuwsen teaches middle school in South Lyon, lives in Howell and will be coaching at Plymouth, which is one of three high schools on the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park campus.

“I drive a lot,” said a smiling Meeuwsen, who was an assistant boys basketball coach at Canton High School the previous four years. “But it’s worth it.”

Meeuwsen said his familiarity with the P-CEP environment will undoubtedly help in his transition.

“Just knowing the Park like I do, where the gyms are, the dynamic of players from different teams attending the same classes together, sure, it should help a lot,” he said. “I was in charge of scouting, too, at Canton, so that should help us in the long run.”

Defense wins championships

Meeuwsen, who takes over a team that finished 7-14 during the 2021-22 season, said he wants his teams to think defense first, with an emphasis on rebounding,

“The top priority is to make it tough for the opponent to score,” he said. “I want to have some fun on offense, too — push the ball a little more than they have in the past and score more points. I’m also emphasizing to my players how important it is to take the best possible team shot.”

One Wildcat Meeuwsen will have the pleasure to coach is senior Kelvin Amoako, a 6-foot-11 center whose length should make it difficult for opponents to score and whose offensive versatility — “He’s been making threes all summer,” his new coach revealed — should help rev up the offense.

“The transition to our new coach is going well,” Amoako said during Monday’s inaugural KLAA Media Event at Northville High School. “Everybody is meshing well. Even though we always didn’t have our whole roster this summer, we held our own against some really good teams, including Canton.”

Leading by example

Meeuwsen said he enjoys participating in the Wildcats’ practices periodically.

“I usually do OK,” he said, smiling, “unless I’m playing 1-on-1 against a 6-foot-11 dude like Kelvin and I generally lose due to my height disadvantage.”

Fellow senior Bryce Garbacz said he wants to be one of the players who helps turn the program around (from last year’s 7-14 mark) for the younger players.

“The mentality has changed 180 degrees from last year; we expect a lot more from ourselves,” said Garbacz. I expect a lot more success. I think it’s going to be a fun year.”

Meeuwsen spoke highly of the pair of seniors’ commitment to the program.

“They want to leave a positive footprint on the program,” he said. “They’ve been to just about every summer practice and workout, they’re in the weight room consistently. I couldn’t ask any more from these guys.”

Amoako and Garbacz are driven, Meeuwsen asserted.

Maybe not as much as his well-traveled vehicle, but enough to help the Wildcats turn the corner.