Last season’s All-County Player of the Year and eight others return for the Pacific Union College Prep boys basketball team, giving coach Mike Buller plenty of reason to hope for the playoff berth that somehow eluded the Falcons last season.

Tyler Thesman, a 6-foot-7 senior, averaged 29.5 points, 17.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals as a junior. The center played all summer with the elite “707’s Finest” team and has had personal training with an AAU coach, Buller said. Whether that serves to just give him gaudier numbers, or makes his teammates play better, the coach said his team has a goal to reach the Sac-Joaquin Section’s new Div. VI playoffs, after not making the Div. V field last season.

“He has made great use of his offseason to improve his basketball and leadership skills (by playing) in lots of weekend tournaments around the state,” Buller said. “He has improved both his inside and outside game and has worked on being more aggressive around the hoop.”

Also returning are senior forward Daniel Schmitz (9.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.2 steals last season) and senior guard-forward KC Browne (6.8 points, 5.5 rebounds).

“All three players are back and each has added a little more experience to the team,” Buller said. “All three have played in the offseason, attending basketball camps, and have worked on ball handling and court awareness.”

Rounding out the PUP Prep squad are seniors Brett Hayes and Tim Herber, juniors Brandon Browne and Andrew Cole, sophomores Nick Evans and Clayton Jordan, and freshman Zach Jensen.

“I have high expectations this year for our team,” Buller added. “Having more experience and a well-balanced team this year will hopefully give us a better chance for playoffs. I also expect this team to really execute well and play well-rounded fundamental basketball. We look forward to a great season.”

Girls Basketball

Buller, who is also PUC Prep’s athletic director, said the Div. VI playoffs also look like a real possibility for the girls team.

The Falcons return their entire squad, making things a little easier for first-year coach Mons Jensen.

The team is led by seniors Courtney Helmer, Annika Jensen, Michelle Wheeler and Brita Widmer, who have all been together since their freshman years.

Widmer led last year’s squad with 8.7 points and 8.7 rebounds.

The team also includes juniors Cassidy Hein, Jackie Irula, Lily Murphy, Giselle Schmitz and Rocio Tepen; and sophomores Jenna Glantz, Kerry Juliano and Mackenzie Thesman.