By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT–David Goldshore, a five-year assistant under Head Coach Colin Devine, takes over the top duties with the Staples High boys’ basketball team this winter.

Goldshore is thrilled to be in this role and excited for the start of the season.

“It’s been a life-long dream of mine to be a head high school basketball coach. To get this opportunity is really humbling to me,” he said.

A three-sport athlete in high school, Goldshore was the football team’s quarterback, and played basketball and baseball at Horace Greely in Chappaqua, N.Y. before attending the University of Michigan where he served as a student team manager back when Michigan had its Fab Five, becoming the first NCAA basketball team with five freshman starters to reach the national championship game, in 1991.

Goldshore is expecting his new Fab Five of sorts to be led by a core of returnees, including captains: 6-foot-8 center and All FCIAC honoree Chris Zajac, and guards Charlie Honig, Cody Sale and Gavin Rothenberg.

Other key Wreckers back on the court are Caleb Smith, a name familiar to football fans, along with Adam Udell and Ethan Cukier. Freshmen whom Goldshore expects big things from are Sam Clachko and Mason Tobias.

Whether it means a winning season, playoffs or not, Goldshore is aiming for his team to improve as the season unfolds.

“Our goal is to play the best basketball game we play all year in the last game of the season,” he said. “I like this group. I think we can accomplish some great things.”

The FCIAC is loaded with parity, Goldshore said. Ridgefield, winners of five of the last six conference titles, is among a top group that includes Danbury and Fairfield Warde. From there, other formidable teams include Greenwich, Wilton, New Canaan, Brien McMahon, Trumbull, Bridgeport Central.

“My guess is anybody can beat anybody on any given night,” the Staples coach said.

Things tip off on Thursday, Dec. 22 when the Wreckers visit Stratford at 7 p.m. for the first of three consecutive games against South-West Conference foes.

Pomperaug of Southbury comes to Westport for the first home tilt, Dec. 27 at 5 p.m. Staples visits Newtown on Jan. 3 for a 7 p.m. game. Then the Wreckers jump into the FCIAC fire with Ridgefield on Jan. 6 on the road at 7 p.m.

Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s. Learn more about us here.