Whitman boys’ basketball coach Chris Lun coached the Capital all-stars in the main event of the 41st Annual Capital Classic on April 26 at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. Photo by Craig Sterbutzel.
Chris Lun sat on the bench and watched as Randy Haynes took flight.
Haynes, a senior from Potomac High School in Dumfries, Va., and a member of the Capital all-star team, caught an alley-oop pass off the backboard and threw down an electrifying dunk. Haynes' display of athleticism led to a reactionary twitch from Lun, as if in that moment, the coach had turned into one his teenage athletes caught up in a moment of amazement.
“It’s fun seeing this stuff up close,” Lun said. “I love my Whitman guys to death. They play so well like a team, but we don’t get the alley-oop dunks off the backboard at Whitman, so it’s fun to see that up close.”
Lun, head coach of the Whitman boys’ basketball program, led the Vikings to the 4A state championship game in March. On April 26, Lun coached the Capital all-stars, a team composed of athletes from the Washington, D.C.-metro area, during the main event of the 41st Annual Capital Classic at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. Facing a U.S. all-stars team composed primarily of athletes from up and down the East Coast, Lun’s Capital squad held a nine-point lead entering the fourth quarter before falling to the U.S. team 139-134.
“It’s fun seeing this stuff up close. I love my Whitman guys to death. They play so well like a team, but we don’t get the alley-oop dunks off the backboard at Whitman, so it’s fun to see that up close.”
— Whitman boys’ basketball coach Chris Lun
While the Capital all-stars came up short, Lun said he enjoyed coaching in the event. NBA stars such as LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony have participated in the Capital Classic, along with Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.
Lun’s 2014 Capital all-stars roster included two athletes who will attend the University of Maryland — Bishop O’Connell’s Melo Trimble and Potomac’s (Md.) Dion Wiley.The team also included one athlete from a Montgomery County school: Springbrook’s Andrew Robinson, who finished with 17 points. Riverdale Baptist’s Chinanu Onuaku led the team with 21 points and 14 rebounds.
“It was a great experience seeing the guys up close,” Lun said. “Just unbelievable talent on the court.”
Lun, 37, led Whitman to a 21-7 record this season. The Vikings advanced to the state championship game, where they ran into a talented Wise team, losing 70-43. Lun, a 1995 graduate of Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, has coached the Whitman boys’ program for a decade, compiling a 141-103 record. He led the Vikings to a state championship in 2006.
“It was a great year for us,” Lun said. “The run that our guys went on was just fantastic. I love my Whitman team. They deserve everything they got … this year. We’re going to miss our senior class and this is just a great way to cap it off.”
BULLIS’ WALKER, SANGSTER COMPETE AT CAPITAL CLASSIC
Earlier in the day, two Bullis players competed for the North all-stars during the first of three games at the Capital Classic. Andre Walker, who will play for Hofstra, scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds and Russell Sangster, who will play for LeMoyne College, had seven points to help the North all-stars beat the South 109-106.
Rob Garner, head coach of the 4A state champion Wise boys’ basketball team, coached the North all-stars. Clinton Christian’s Byron Hawkins scored 29 points for the South, earning MVP honors in a losing effort.
In the second game, the West all-stars beat the East 126-115.