Silver leads Rolling Hills Prep back to the playoffs

When Ryan Silver took over the Rolling Hills Prep boys basketball program this season, the stack was already stacked against the Huskies.

Kenny Greene had transferred to Mira Costa. Ronnie Stevens, who played in Rolling Hills Prep's summer program, enrolled at Orange Lutheran before eventually transferring to Serra. And the Huskies were reeling from the graduations of Kanoa Defries and Bobby Phillips.

Silver stepped in. He convinced football standouts Andrew Frisina and Jacob Sereno to come out for the basketball team. He had to talk Race Munger into joining the team.

Slowly but surely, Rolling Hills Prep built momentum.

Finally, with its 39-27 Harbor League victory over Animo, the Huskies clinched at least third place and a playoff berth, the program's second straight after a four-year drought.

And it was particularly satisfying for Silver, who is in his first head coaching position.

"It's exciting. This is my first year as a varsity head coach, and it's been an absolute dream of mine," Silver said.

Silver has had coaching stints at Malibu, Newport Harbor, El Segundo (under Coach Rick Sabosky who Silver calls a "great human being and mentor") Lawndale (under Coach Alex Acosta, who Silver calls "a great basketball coach" and now at Rolling Hills Prep.

Silver said he receives "unbelievable support" from Athletic Director Brian Knigin, the school's former basketball coach.

"We've had a good run so far," Silver said. "We turned it around, and the kids haev worked their rear ends off."