New Look, Same Goal: A St. Michael’s Basketball District Preview

It’s not often that you find a Coach as committed to building up a program as Cooper Land is to St. Michael’s. Entering his ninth season with the Warriors, Coach Land has taken the team to unprecedented heights, leading the Warriors to their 2025 State Championship, their first in over twenty years and second in school history. The championship was long-awaited for St. Michael’s, following consecutive final four appearances the previous two years. After a victory over Austin area powerhouse Bowie High School on Friday, January 2nd (Editor’s note: the article is late to come out due to editor lateness. Apologies. St Michael’s Prep are now two games into district play having faced Central Catholic and TMI Episcopal already), the Warriors sit at 21-6 (updated), ranked 8th overall in the state of Texas and first among private schools. As TAPPS Division I District 3 play has begun this past week, the Warriors begin their quest to return to Waco and defend their state championship.

Coach Land was asked about the state of the program and how it has grown during his time. Land noted the ability of the team to reload on collegiate-level talent every year. The facts don’t lie, and St Michael’s has had 11 current or future college basketball players on the roster over the last three years.

The Warriors currently hold three athletes signed to play at the next level: Swarthmore University commit Will Gasink (‘26), 6’ 5” St. Edwards commit Nolan Barkley (‘26), and 6 foot 6 Senior Jayden Buchunam, signed to Dallas Baptist. Additionally, standout guard Sun Jinkal might be one of the most underrated players in Texas. A 6’ 6” junior who currently holds six division one offers, Jinkal recently received his first Power Four offer from North Carolina State. After the 2025 season, St. Michael’s suffered the loss of Division 1 talents Bo Ogden to Westlake High School and Aiden Disu to Holy Cross University. Additionally, Shug Jinkal, Tomas Bruzoni, and Kalen Williamson all took the step to play college basketball. As a result, many saw 2026 as a potential rebuild season for the Warriors, but Jinkal, Barkley, Gasink and company have proven that not to be the case. When asked about these three in particular, Coach Land described their eagerness to step into a bigger role on the team this year. This is exactly what they have done, as the Warriors, led by these three captains, seem poised to defend their Championship in early March. 

However, one of the few things harder than winning a state championship is continuing that dominance, and defending this Championship will be no easy task for the Warriors this season. Teams like Texas Military Institute (TMI Episcopal) and Dallas Parish Episcopal seem just as, if not more talented than St. Michael’s heading into the season. However, a key factor and advantage for the Warriors is the battle-tested and experienced nature of the squad. The Warriors have tested themselves against elite competition, including multiple top-five teams in Texas and nationally ranked opponents from South Carolina, Florida, and California.

When asked about the importance of facing these kinds of teams, Cooper Land discussed his belief in the “iron sharpens iron” mentality, and how he and his team have bought into that this season. St. Michael’s already owns a victory over district rival TMI Episcopal earlier this season, as they face off against the Panthers on January 9th in a district battle of two Texas Private School Powerhouses (Editor’s note: the game has been played and TMI Episcopal won 71-59). The Panthers look to be the Warriors’ primary competition for the top of District 3, led by Baylor signee Elijah Williams and coached by 2022 NBA Coach of the Year Monty Williams. The Antonian Prep Apaches also pose a possible threat, ranked 3rd in TAPPS and boasting a 22-5 record on the year. While the Warriors look to secure their eighth straight district championship, don’t be surprised if the team that emerges atop District 3 is the same one cutting down the nets and hoisting the state championship trophy in March. 

As mentioned earlier, St. Michael’s 2025 championship run was primarily due to the production of its upperclassmen. In 2026, the script has been flipped. The impact of the younger players on the squad has been clear throughout the year, most notably that of Naravan Varma and Nico Cajas. 

Sophomore Narayan Varma is absolutely deadly from 3-point range and seems to always get hot at the right moment. Varma absolutely exploded against Florida powerhouse Windermere Prep for 22 points on 86% from beyond the arc. The transfer from Austin St Andrews already has a year of championship basketball experience, as he won the 2025 Southwest Preparatory Conference Championship with his former squad. Additionally, standout Nico Cajas (‘29) has been electric for the Warriors so far this season. The freshman wasted no time on campus before seeing varsity action, and his exceptional speed and quickness with the ball, paired with consistent shooting ability has earned him solid rotational minutes, while often jumping into the starting lineup. Cajas’ most notable performance so far this season was an eye-opening 22-point night against the Lake Travis Cavaliers back in December. The freshman looks to be yet another future Division 1 player to come through this St. Michael’s program, and with the impact of these young players, it’s safe to say the squad is in good hands in years to come.

Something that has become associated with the St. Michael’s basketball program over the past few years has been the phrase “As One.” When asked about this, Coach Land explained its origins in the 2023 movie Boys in the Boat. Land compared basketball to rowing, emphasizing that success only comes when five players move and communicate as one. He discussed how this concept has become ingrained in the identity of the team and attributes much of their success to that mentality. 

In a season defined by change, the goal in Austin remains the same. Behind Coach Land’s leadership, a battle-tested schedule, and a roster that blends proven stars with emerging talent, St. Michael’s has once again positioned itself at the top of TAPPS Division I. Built by a culture that demands selflessness and unity, the Warriors continue to play “As One” and as district play begins, they look every bit like a program built to defend its crown. For the Warriors, every possession from here on out points in one direction: back to Waco.