PERKINS-TRYON DEMONS
COACH: Dylan Parker
Record: 18–8
OUTLOOK
Coming off an 18–8 season, the Perkins-Tryon Demons enter the 2025–2026 campaign loaded with experience, depth, and determination. Head coach Dylan Parker, now in his seventh year at the helm, has high expectations for his veteran squad. “We have a chance to be a really good basketball team,” said Parker. “We brought everyone back off last year’s team that continually improved as the season went on. We’ll have seven seniors on the roster who all played significant minutes last year.”
For Parker, the goal is clear—start fast and finish stronger. “Getting off to a better start will be a main focus to begin this season,” he said. “We started 2–4 before Christmas break last year and went 16–4 the rest of the way. Finding a way to capture that momentum from start to finish will be important to the overall success of our team.”
The Demons return a powerful one-two punch in Tyce Slusser (5-11, Jr.) and Jace Myers (6-1, Sr.). “Tyce really burst on the scene for us last year as a sophomore and we expect him to have a big junior season,” said Parker. “He led our team in scoring and assists. He continually improved as the season went on and plans to pick up where he left off.” Myers, meanwhile, provides leadership and versatility. “Jace is our leader who will do whatever is asked of him on a nightly basis,” Parker said. “His role really changed last year from a 4/5 man to running the point at times, and he was able to successfully navigate that transition. He does all the little things for our team, can guard 1–5, and is our second leading scorer.”
Rounding out the senior class are Wyatt Atkinson (6-1, G), Zane Payton (6-4, PF), Shiloh Guster (6-0, SG), Nate Rains (5-11, G), Cale Collum (6-2, G), and Carson Brown (6-0, G)—a group Parker calls essential to the team’s chemistry and energy. “Nate is a senior who has done nothing but improve over his career,” said Parker. “He is our energy guy who always brings positivity to practice and on the court.”
Underclassmen DeAngelo Johnson (6-6, So.), Westin Atkinson (5-10, So.), and others will also play key roles this season. “DeAngelo had a very successful freshman year playing in 22 of our 26 games,” Parker said. “He’s the most gifted athlete in our program and showed great improvement during his freshman campaign. His role is expected to increase this year, and he has the potential to be our breakout player this season.”
