In March 2025, when the final buzzer sounded in San Antonio, Booker T. Washington didn’t just walk off the state championship floor with another loss; they walked off with perspective.
The seniors who carried Booker T.Washington to its second UIL State Tournament in three seasons left the program with something more valuable than a trophy. They exited with a standard.
For the players who stayed behind, the ones returning to that same gym every day, the message was clear. The next run doesn’t start next season. It started the moment they returned home.
“The one thing I remember most about the locker room was that the boys remained joyful even though we didn’t reach the ultimate goal,” said Booker T. Washington head basketball coach Jermaine Byrd. “I wanted them to take pride in the standard and feel its weight. Being a returning player means you’re no longer just contributing; you’re setting the tone.”
Byrd watched as players came to understand that habits, effort, and leadership mattered more than ever. Booker T.Washington was no longer a team surprising people with a deep postseason run; they were now expected to be there.
Looking back on the loss to Dallas Kimball, senior guard Aaron Dixon believes the lesson was about unity.
“Unity is everything,” said Dixon. “During hard times, you have to stay together, with no finger-pointing or arguing. Championship teams lift and encourage one another.”
The loss to Kimball during the 2025 season didn’t linger as a source of frustration for long. Inside Booker T. Washington’s gym, it quickly became fuel, especially for players who knew the responsibility now rested on them.
Graduating seniors Samuel Johnson, Robert Jones, and Jalen Webb, pillars of the program, shifted the focus toward restoring leadership.
“Those players were the core of our program,” said Byrd. “Here at Booker T., we pride ourselves on a ‘brotherhood’ where we teach each other. Those three have passed down the leadership roles to Kadyn Barnes, Cordell Collins, Aaron Dixon & Braylon Pete, who have done a good job.”
Experience is a major difference between last year’s group and this year’s group. Johnson, who started as a freshman, shot 60% from the floor and averaged 10.4 rebounds per game. Stepping into that role now is senior power forward Kadyn Barnes.
“Now that I’m one of the veterans on the team, my responsibilities have gone beyond focusing solely on my own performance,” said Barnes. “I’m expected to lead by example, set the tone in practice, and help younger, less experienced teammates adjust to the team’s pace and expectations.”
Barnes understands leadership isn’t limited to speeches or spotlight moments.
“It’s a constant task to keep everyone connected and motivated during practices, meetings, and game days,” said Barnes. “Staying calm and respectful sets the tone as a leader because tough conversations have to happen, and sometimes that can be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary. Fans may not see the actions taken off the court. A lot of the work is quiet, but it’s what helps the team stay unified and ready to compete.”
But leadership at Booker T. Washington isn’t only about age or experience; sometimes it’s about how quickly you grow into the moment.
Sophomore guard Donovan Jackson has emerged as the team’s young spark, currently shooting 67% from three-point range, according to MaxPreps.
“Playing in a championship atmosphere at a young age showed me how intense high-level competition can be,” said Jackson. “The energy, pressure, and expectations were unlike anything I had experienced before. It taught me how much every detail mattered and how important it was to be mentally prepared.”
The loss pushed Jackson to work harder during the offseason, training with greater purpose, addressing weaknesses, and not taking reps for granted.
“Donovan Jackson is a difference maker,” said Byrd. “His high basketball IQ sets him apart from other sophomores at this level. We spent the entire summer working to get his body right. Now we’re looking for consistency in his overall play, and it will come.”
While Jackson represents what Washington is becoming, others represent what it has already built: Toughness, composure, and trust, with returning role players anchoring the culture.
“It means a lot to be part of a group that knows how to win,” said senior guard Braylon Pete. “Two state runs show our team works hard, stays together, and expects success. When team energy is low, I lead by example, play hard, and encourage my teammates to pick it up.”
That continuity, with players returning and standards remaining, is no coincidence.
With Booker T. Washington aiming for another postseason run, they aren’t rebuilding; they’re reloading.
“Reloading is the right word because this program isn’t starting over; it’s building on what’s already been established,” said Byrd. “The foundation, expectations, and identity are firmly in place. Even with players graduating or moving on, the standard hasn’t changed. The returning players understand the culture, the system, and what it takes to win, and the new players are stepping into a structure that’s already proven.”
Regardless of who graduates, the grind and brotherhood remain the same year to year.
“Our former players come back in the summers to play with our current students,” said Byrd. “They protect the culture by modeling the standard every day, showing younger and new teammates how things are done, how to practice with purpose, compete, and respond to adversity. They reinforce expectations when effort slips, or standards drop because they’ve lived the program, and their voices carry credibility.”
At Booker T. Washington, culture isn’t something discussed; it’s something passed down.
As Booker T. Washington continues their dominance in 4A Region III, District 20, the goal is clear.
“We gotta win state; that’s the unfinished business,” said Dixon.
“Being healthy and not skipping steps are the determining factors for getting back to state and finishing the job,” said Byrd. “We have to take one game at a time and get better from game to game.”
