The 2024–25 campaign was not a memorable one for the West Jordan boys basketball team. 

The Jaguars went 5-18 last season and won four of their 12 Region 4 contests. But last year’s record and outcomes aren’t deterring West Jordan from competing and turning around its fortunes this season. Head coach Christian Wouden has liked what he has seen from his players’ attitudes, work ethic and goal-setting. 

“This season, the team has really come together,” he said. “Our team unity is at an all-time high. Also, players are hardworking, coachable and improving daily. They are putting in the work that it takes to get better each and every day.” 

Wouden said his players are in good physical condition, which should help the team in late-game situations. He likes the team speed and also spoke highly of his senior class, which consists of players who set good examples for younger players. 

“One of our greatest strengths is our speed,” Wouden said. “We are not only fast, we're well conditioned, which allows us to push the pace, thrive in transition and stay strong in high-tempo games. We also benefit from outstanding leadership with five captains, each offering a unique style and strength. Our leadership is deep and distributed.”

Wouden’s objective in 2025–26 is simple: get better. 

“We want to improve our record from last season,” he said. “Our goals this season are to continue improving every day and position ourselves as a top contender in our region. Ultimately, we hope to bring home a region trophy and make some noise at the state level.”

Setting the pace this season is senior Tyler Larson, who has played good defense so far on the year. Larson is the leading rebounder, averaging 6.7 boards a game. He also chips in 4.5 points an outing. These numbers are up from last season when he averaged one point and one rebound a contest. 

“[Larson] has stepped up in a big way this season,” Wouden said. “He has become one of our strongest defensive players who brings a competitive edge to every game.”

Senior captain Brock Litchfield, Ahmad Mullahkhel, Carson Gohring and Ian McIntyre, along with junior Brooks Halterman are players Wouden will look to in crucial time to make big plays and provide a steady hand.

“Brock leads the team in steals,” Wouden said. “Ahmad is incredibly efficient, shooting 87% from the free throw line. Carson is a defensive superstar, who always gets to the rim. [McIntyre] is an offensive weapon. [Halterman] is a quick ball handler who sees the floor extremely well.”

Then there’s junior Mason Dorenbosch, a player Wouden refers to as the “Swiss army knife” of the team. He averages 6.2 points and 2.3 rebounds a game. Sophomore Linkon Hall has made a strong impression on the coaching staff. The forward has a lot of potential and should contribute more and more as the season goes on.

“The strength of this team is the depth and the number of different weapons we have,” Wouden said. 

Coming off a season where the Jaguars didn’t have the success they wanted, Wouden wants to make sure the players have confidence in themselves and their teammates. He knows a lot of opponents won’t expect a lot from West Jordan, but he is preaching positive attitudes and outlooks to his players. 

“One of our biggest challenges will be getting out of our own way—staying mentally tough,” he said. “A lot of people underestimate us, so it's imperative that we don't underestimate ourselves. Our players can overcome this by trusting their preparation—mental and physical—trusting each other and playing with confidence.”

To achieve team goals and pick up more victories this season, Wouden said his pupils need to have good team unity and learn to respect one another. 

“Success will come from playing as a unit,” he said. “When we develop true cohesion on both ends of the floor, with trust and communication, we can compete with anyone.”

The 2025–26 season has started off roughly, with the Jaguars sitting at 1-5 overall as of Dec. 11. West Jordan’s lone win up to that point was a 66-62 triumph over Summit Academy on Dec. 2. In that victory, the Jaguars trailed by five heading into the fourth quarter but had a 27-18 fourth-quarter advantage to seal the win. McIntyre was the leader in points with 23, while Litchfield added 16 to go with four rebounds and three assists. Larson had 6 points and a team-high seven boards. West Jordan fell to rival Copper Hills 70-57 on Dec. 8 despite 19 points from Mullahkhel. 

West Jordan hosted American Heritage on Dec. 11 and Spanish Fork on Dec. 18 before taking a break for Christmas. The Region 4 schedule begins on Jan. 2 with a game against West. 

The West Jordan players are forming a tight-knit group, which makes it easier for Wouden to coach, he said. He is grateful for the efforts the players are making to progress and work toward being a more competitive team. The Jaguars have six league opponents in Region 4: Juan Diego, Cyprus, Kearns, Hunter, Taylorsville and Granger. 

“What I love about this group is the balance of toughness and togetherness,” he said. “They are competitive and push each other on the court but have developed a genuine closeness off the court. Our team theme this year is ‘Brotherhood,’ and this team has really turned that into their identity and have become a family.”