The last run: Chino Hills’ 13 seniors lead a season built on brotherhood, resilience, and legacy
CHINO HILLS, Calif. — When Head Coach Dennis Latimore looks at this year’s Chino Hills High School boys’ basketball team, he doesn’t start by listing stats or trophies, though there are plenty of those. Instead, he talks about the people.
“This team has a great group of experienced guys who play extremely hard and really enjoy being around each other on and off the court,” Latimore says.
That connection: deep, genuine, and years in the making, is the heart of the 2025 Huskies. And it’s especially embodied in the 13 seniors who have spent four years building a culture of trust, grit, and joy that’s powering one of the best seasons the school has seen since its 2017 state-title run.
With a 9–1 start and multiple close wins under pressure, this senior-heavy squad isn’t just talented. According to the players themselves, they’re bonded in ways most teams rarely achieve.
A Brotherhood Years in the Making
Ask any of the seniors what makes this group special, and you’ll hear the same theme: they are more than teammates.
Senior Nate Jarrett, a vocal, steady presence on and off the floor, explains it simply.
“Most people don’t see our camaraderie,” he says. “It’s not just about going out and playing basketball. We are all good friends and have a special bond and trust.”
That trust, Nate explains, is rooted in years of shared effort. They’ve practiced together, grown up together, pushed one another through the hard moments, and celebrated every victory, big or small. That history becomes their edge.
“This group is different because of our adversity, will, and drive,” Nate continues. “Whether we’re up by 20 or down by 10, we don’t change our style of play.”
Senior captain Akello “AK” Rasshan, one of the team’s most respected leaders, echoes that sentiment.
“This team is different this year because our chemistry and relationships have been built through the course of all four years we’ve played here,” Akello says. “Most of us already had established relationships with each other before the season even started.”
For Akello, the chemistry isn’t accidental; it’s something they’ve invested in. And it shows.
A Team That Moves as One
If leadership is the engine of the team, then connection is the fuel. Senior Jiho Kim, known for his energy, leadership, and role as the team’s unofficial hype man, explains what keeps them locked in every game.
“The fact that our guys have been together for so long and the chemistry we’ve built over time allows us to be more of a unit on the court.”
He means it literally. The Huskies’ ball movement is crisp. Their defensive rotations are instinctive. Their communication is constant. They react to one another in real time, often without needing words.
And off the court? They’re inseparable.
Senior Alex Criner, one of the team’s anchors and a player who understands the value of preparation, says the culture they’ve built extends into every corner of the program.
“Probably the practices and the intensity we bring during practices,” Alex shares. “As well as the support surrounding the team. The parents, especially AK’s parents, have been huge. The photo shoots, the team bonding, the supplies they’ve set up… it’s been a massive part of this team.”
He paused, then added what most of the players say in their own way. “The connection and bond everyone on the team really has. Most of us have been playing together our whole high school career, some even earlier, and we’re all close friends off the court.”
For Alex, finishing his senior year with the same core he started with, Joaquin Tovera, Devonaire Curtis, Shaeden Dupree, and AK, is something he says he’ll always carry with him.
Memories That Will Last Beyond the Final Buzzer
The seniors are quick to mention their proudest moments this season. For Nate, one stands out more than any other: “We’re most proud of beating Ayala by 30.”
But this groups’ seasons have been filled with meaningful moments: comeback wins, hard-fought practices, goofy bus rides home, singing and celebrating after victories. They’re writing the kind of memories you carry into adulthood.
Coach Latimore sees that joy as a sign of a healthy, confident group. His players describe him as calm, strategic, and deeply invested. He and Assistant Coach Remen Santos, both championship-season veterans, have built a culture where players feel supported, challenged, and valued.
Seniors Who Set the Standard
While the team culture is collective, each of the 13 seniors brings something unique.
Nate Jarrett – the steady voice, the glue guy, the tone-setter
Akello Rasshan – the captain leading with skill, maturity, and unshakeable poise
Devonaire Curtis – a dynamic player with on-court instinct
Joaquin Tovera – the other captain, comeback king and clutch competitor
Zach Dimapilis – dependable, focused, and fearless
Dillan McGriff – athletic and explosive
Tarshon Spicer – a tough defender and strong finisher
Jiho Kim – the hype man, motivator, and spark plug
Ricky Enriquez – versatile and reliable
Shaeden Dupree – one of the team’s longest-tenured players
Alex Criner – an intense competitor and locker-room cornerstone
Dunomis Igucha – a steady presence with improving strength
Aydan Ibarra-Hand – hardworking, coachable, and committed
Together, they represent an unusual level of senior leadership—13 players unified in one mission.
A Season They Want to Be Remembered
When asked how they hope people will remember the 2025 Chino Hills Huskies, the seniors answer with conviction.
Nate: “We hope people remember our winning attitude and our commitment to the game and each other.”
Alex: “I hope people can remember this team for what we accomplish this year.”
Akello: “I want people to remember our chemistry, the way we built this family over years.”
Coach Latimore says that what motivates the team most is the drive of a senior class determined to leave with no regrets.
“They want to reach their full potential,” he says. “They want to finish this journey the right way.”
The Story They’ll Tell for Years
There are state title banners hanging in the Chino Hills gym from 2016, 2018 and 2019. But the story of this year’s team isn’t about repeating history. It’s about writing their own.
A tight-knit group of 13 seniors, bonded through four years of grueling practices, shared adversity, and genuine friendship, is proving that culture wins games. Chemistry fuels comebacks. Trust builds confidence. And a unified team creates something far bigger than any one player.
More than anything, they want this season to be remembered as the year they reached their full potential—together.
And they’re not done yet.
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