Tom Espinosa has built a national prep powerhouse with a specific model that has worked for Putnam Science.
He loves guards and bigs, believing that mix wins a lot of games. He teaches them to press and defend in a unique way that creates fits for opponents. He builds deep rosters, and shuffles lineups every few minutes. Want to play 30-35 minutes per game? Putnam isn’t the place for you; Espinosa likes to keep minutes low, knowing it will benefit them in March.
The formula works, evidenced by the hardware. The Mustangs have won four prep national championships since 2018, including what was essentially a three-peat from 2020 to 2023 because there wasn’t one played in 2021. Last season, Putnam lost in the national championship game. And while the Mustangs return only three players – including Ben Ahmed and Tony “Butta” Williams – Espinosa put together a group motivated to return to glory, with several young and promising players.
“Everyone has something to prove,” Espinosa said. “They’re here for a reason.”
