Valley hoops coaches reflect on experience at McDonald’s All-American games

WASILLA — In the days and weeks that led up to the McDonald’s All-American Games, Houston boys basketball head coach Krehg Perez didn’t know what to say when people asked him about his chance to coach in the most prestigious high school basketball event in the nation.

But after four busy days centered around basketball, Perez looks back at it as an opportunity of a lifetime. Perez was one of six Alaska coaches, four from the Valley, selected to lead the West all-star teams during the annual All-American games March 28 in Atlanta, Georgia.

“When people asked me before, how I feel about it, it was hard to explain. It’s not something on a coach’s bucket list. You can’t strive to be a McDonald’s All-American coach,” Perez said.

But Perez and Wasilla girls’ basketball head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax, and assistants Karissa Rollman and Stacia Rustad can now all say they have coached in the high school All-American game.

‘It’s a crazy feeling,” Perez said. “For the rest of my life I can put this on my resume, tell people I coached in the McDonald’s All-American Game.”

In January, Hebert-Truax was selected as the head coach of the West All-Stars in the girls’ All-American game. Dimond boys head coach Brad Lauwers was named the West All-Stars boys head coach. Each selected a pair of assistants. Hebert-Truax picked two of her assistants at WHS, Rollman and Rustad. Lauwers chose his son Colton and Perez to join him on the sideline.

Perez said he was honored to be picked by Lauwers even though he is no longer on the Dimond staff. Perez recently finished his first season as the head coach of the Houston boys program.

“It meant a lot,” Perez said.

Perez spent 10 total years working with Lauwers, the last three as an assistant at Dimond. He also severed as an assistant on the Lauwers staff at Heritage Christian School for seven years.

“He gave me my first coaching job at 20 years old,” Perez said. “He’s a huge mentor. He’s encouraged me in my coaching career. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have the resume I have today.”

Perez said his stay in Georgia included a scrimmage, the game and the skills competition. Perez said the coaches and players also had the opportunity to learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities, which draws proceeds annually from the high school All-American games, and visit children of families the charity helps serve. The Ronald McDonald House Charities provide lodging for families with hospitalized children. There are more than 350 Ronald McDonald houses worldwide.

Perez said visiting some of the children connected to the program, and learning more about the Ronald McDonald charities was a great experience.

“It was really kind of cool to experience all of that and hear about what the Ronald McDonald House is, how they help kids and families,” Perez said. “Being a part of that, getting to hang out with those kids was awesome.”

On the boys’ side, the West All-Stars included a dozen of the top players in the country including Bol Bol, an Oregon recruit, the fourth ranked player in the nation according to espn.com and the son of former NBA star Manute Bol.

“Just being around that environment is unbelievable,” Perez said. “Being around those kids, who could end up being (NBA) lottery picks in the next couple years was humbling.”

Hebert-Truax said it what quite an experience to share the floor with the top players in the nation.

“A lot of talent in those kids,” Hebert-Truax said. “It was pretty cool. Some of those kids are so quick, able to create on their own.”

Hebert-Truax said there was not a lot of time to structure specific game plans, and the coaches focused on ensuring all of the all-stars got their minutes.

“It was definitely a unique experience, and I am sure glad we got to experience it,” Hebert-Truax said.

It was all part of a whirlwind week for the Warriors coaches. Hebert-Truax, Rollman and Rustad boarded a plane in Anchorage just hours after leading Wasilla to the 4A girls’ title game for the third straight year March 24. Hebert-Truax said while it was tiring jumping straight from the 4A state tournament to the festivities in Atlanta, she enjoyed spending the time with her assistants.

“It was nice to be able to hang out and not have a lot of stress. In regions and state, we stress about getting our team ready,” Hebert-Truax said.

Instead, Hebert-Truax said they were able to go with the flow throughout the festivities.

And to top it all off, both West teams scored a victory in the games. In the girls’ game, the West All-Stars beat the East 82-79. Christyn Williams, a Connecticut commit and the top-ranked player in the nation according to espn.com, led the West team with a game-high 22 points.

In the boys’ game, the West beat the East 131-128. Nassir Little, ESPN’s No. 10 recruit and a North Carolina recruit, led the West with 28 points.

“It was great both teams got wins,” Perez said. “It was great to represent the state.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.