Boys’ basketball: Maxwell Kupchak is coming on strong

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A year ago, Brentwood was primarily a two-man team, relying almost exclusively on Leland King and Tra Holder.

This season, other players have joined King and Holder to help lead the Eagles to a 21-2 record. One of those contributors has been 6-foot-6 sophomore Maxwell Kupchak, who few envisioned being a major factor before the season because he still had lots of improving to do.

Now, seemingly every week, he gets better. He had 11 points on Saturday when King and Holder couldn’t play against Rolling Hills Prep, and he made a key three-pointer against Pacific Hills in the fourth quarter on Monday night in a game for first place in the Alpha League.

His attitude and enthusiasm is refreshing, and since he’s still growing, he could be a real force for the Eagles in 2014 and 2015.

And no one would be able to figure out that his father is Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak without looking at his name, because he acts just like a regular teenager who loves his teammates and school.

-- Eric Sondheimer