Todd Beamer hoops looks for new crop of players to lead

Published 8:30 am Friday, November 28, 2025

With each season, new challenges face every basketball coach, and Todd Beamer High School’s boys basketball program takes that challenge head on.

The Titans last season played relatively well. They went 15-6 in the regular season, finishing third place in the NPSL.

The Titans have had a really positive stretch in terms of wins and losses the past two seasons, and their rosters have not necessarily been deep. But they have been filled with talented players including Caleb Berry, Will Tellis, TimaJe Johnson and recently Terrence Whiting.

“I have no idea (how we are going to fill his shoes). He only wears a size 10.5, but he’s got big shoes to fill. We are going to see. I like some of the kids we have out there right now. I am excited for De Tre, Jeremiah and Mike, who are going to have to pick up some big slack from last year,” said Brent Brilhante, head coach of the Titans.

Whiting was the primary ball handler last season and was an extra coach on the floor. His presence will be missed on and off the court, but that leaves an open space that a current Titan can fill.

“It’s going to be hard to fill, but hopefully we can have someone step up. Or a group step up and fill those shoes,” Brilhante said.

One of those players can be De Tre Walker, a senior guard on the verge of coming into his own.

“De Tre has shown great leadership so far, which is nice to see because he is a quiet kid. I don’t think he’s not comfortable, but it’s just not in his everyday personality. But he is being vocal and stepping up, taking that leadership role,” Brilhante said.

Walker understands the hole that Whiting left and is more than willing to take that leap.

“We are picking it up slowly. It is going to come through,” Walker said. “It will be difficult, but we have solid pieces and will be able to move the ball a lot and open more opportunities for more shots.”

Todd Beamer took a different approach to summer basketball this season as well. After years of playing in summer leagues, the Titans opted not to play in the summer. Brilhante saw this as an opportunity to just be high school kids and enjoy time off, away from basketball and away from him.

“I think it’s overkill how much we do in the summer league and things like that. Kids should have their summers. A lot of these kids play AAU basketball. A lot of these kids should be playing other sports. For me it was an easy decision. I don’t think that I could look at any of our years where we have been successful and said, ‘Wow we got so much better over the summer.’ They need a break too, a break from me, a break from basketball and a break from being in this building,” Brilhante said. “I was happy they got that break. “

Walker’s focus over summer break was to get in better shape and increase his stamina.

“I was trying to up my stamina. I was getting tired very quick,” Walker said.

Another player who is set to make a big impact is Michael Edwards, who is in his junior year. Edwards will share the backcourt with Walker and try to fill those shoes that Whiting had left the year before.

“He’s a great kid and a great student. He’s just a fantastic person in these halls,” Brilhante said. “It didn’t work out for him in the rotation so to speak last year. He was good enough to play last year, talent-wise. It was just a weird spot for him to be in.”

Edwards did take advantage of his opportunities when he hit the floor as just a sophomore last season.

“He was probably the best player on his team every year, then you’re not playing very much. That’s just hard. He handled it great. He’s got a great attitude this year and he’s ready to go,” Brilhante said.

The Titans open the regular season against Kentwood and Tahoma, two 4A programs with perennial state hopes. The Titans will get some of their best competition of the season in the first week of the season. Brilhante is excited to see what his side can do.

“I love to throw my teams into the fire. We are gonna have some senior leadership. I really respect Blake [Solomon] as a coach and I love playing his teams. You’re going to play a really sound team. Same with Tahoma, I respect [Rick] Tripp a lot,” Brilhante said. “They both are going to be really, really good.”

Walker feels that same weight of their opponents and relishes the opportunity to play them. “They are really good teams, state teams every year. I think we got a really good chance,” he said.