LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ - Under the leadership of head coach Brian Bourgouin and assistant coach Whitney Dinville, the Boys Soehl Middle School Basketball Team is off to a dominant 6–0 start to the season. The adjective isn’t used lightly, their average margin of victory is 28 points.

The foundation of their success begins on the defensive end, where the coaching staff has emphasized discipline and constant communication. The team’s ability to control effort and energy every time they step on the court continues to grow as they learn to play the game the right way and trust one another to make the next play.

Coach Bourgouin has been especially impressed with the team’s unselfishness and collective pride on defense.

“Every day in practice, I challenge them to stay locked in and compete against each other, because I know that’s where real growth happens,” said Bourgouin. “The buy-in, the trust, and the togetherness this group shows is special — and it’s something you don’t often see at the middle school level.”

This team’s success has also been fueled by the resurgence of three key pieces to the puzzle.

Eli Rhett is known as the team’s ultimate competitor and vocal leader. He routinely accepts the challenge of guarding the opposing team’s best guard, taking pride in his ability to disrupt and apply constant pressure. What truly sets Eli apart and what coaches value most, is his ability to lead with his voice in addition to his high level play. A selfless playmaker, he thrives on getting teammates involved while also being a consistent scoring threat.

Shane Henderson has been a dominant force inside, the type of player every team wishes they had. His ability to push the ball in transition and deliver accurate passes to open teammates gives Linden multiple offensive options. His relentless motor and athleticism have forced opposing teams to adjust, often resorting to zone defenses. While he causes chaos on the offensive end, Shane’s defensive presence, altering shots, rebounding, and finishing around the basket makes him equally impactful on the other side of the floor.

Ayziz Ward has emerged as another defensive anchor for Soehl this season. After serving as a reserve last year, Ayziz has made a major impact in the starting lineup by consistently making winning plays. His defensive instincts, rebounding ability, and willingness to move the ball stand out. An extremely unselfish player, Ayziz embraces doing the small things that lead to team success and has grown into a strong practice leader, setting the tone with his effort and approach.

Eli Rhett (8th Grade, Point Guard) shared his thoughts on the team’s growth:

“I think we’ve matured a lot since last year. A lot of us realize this is our final year of middle school basketball, and we want to make it count. We’re focused on fulfilling what our coaches ask of us — especially beating the teams that beat us last season. We want to go undefeated. We know we have a target on our backs, and it doesn’t faze us.”

Whether history will be made remains to be seen, but being part of this journey has been exciting for Linden. Fans are encouraged to save the date and attend at least one of the remaining home games to witness the offensive duo of Rhett (22 PPG) and Henderson (17 PPG), while Henderson and Ward combine for nearly 25 rebounds per game. Their leadership is already being passed down to 7th-grader Emory Parker, who adds 9.5 PPG and further proves why this team remains undefeated.

Linden, stand up — come witness the hype for yourself.

Upcoming Home Games

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 vs. Governor Livingston

Friday, January 30, 2026 vs. Rahway Middle School

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 vs. Kumpf

Friday, February 6, 2026 vs. Scotch Plains–Fanwood