When a coach in any sport either steps down in his prime or bolts to a different school, the cynic in me first puts that departure through a filter that starts with a question: Is the coach leaving because he can’t look good staying? Not so in the case of departing Lawrence High basketball coach Chris Davis.

Local basketball talent tends to go in cycles, sometimes to the benefit of the school to the north of the dividing line that is Bob Billings Parkway, sometimes to the benefit of the school to the south.

At the moment, most of the big-time basketball talent happens to reside south of the dividing line. Despite losing seniors Dorian Green and Lance Kilburn and other key role players, Davis certainly isn’t leaving the cupboard bare.

Davis’ successor will inherit a young, relatively inexperienced team, but a talented one. The Southwest Junior High basketball tandem of Anthony Buffalomeat and K.J. Pritchard created quite a buzz, and both players are headed to LHS. The consensus around town is that, but for a silly rule that really does need to be changed to keep in step with other districts — the one that prohibits ninth-graders from playing for the high school team in sports in which the junior highs field teams — both players would have earned playing time for Davis this past season.

Davis retired from high school coaching to pursue other challenges, and the job he leaves behind will attract many interested, qualified candidates for reasons that extend beyond the talent pool the new coach inherits.

The best place to start any coaching search is in the building. If nobody now teaching at Lawrence High is deemed ready for such a big job, then the search moves to the district. If no natural fit is found there, successful, well-respected coaches in the surrounding area, big-time winners, perhaps from smaller schools, ought to be considered.

It’s not a reach to believe the job could draw national interest. Think about it: The new coach will work within walking distance of the office of one of the nation’s top college basketball coaches, Bill Self, and will be observed closely by Kevin Pritchard, general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers. Normally, it’s not a good idea for high school coaches to have interaction with parents because mom and dad are incapable of judging the coaches of their children objectively. They might think and claim they want what’s best for the team, but blood being as thick as it is, they really want what they believe is best for Junior. But in this case, it could benefit a coach’s career to get to know K.J. Pritchard’s father.

Beyond connections the new coach could make, consider the building in which he’ll coach. The Jungle is a one-of-a-kind home court, filled with old-school charm, passionate student support and a quirky-enough feel to give the home team a distinct advantage.

“When the kids are all in the stands and the school song is being sung, I don’t know that there’s a neater environment for high school basketball,” said Davis, who spent nine seasons as the Lions’ head coach. “That’s something I’m going to really, really miss. This year, when the Free State kids are chanting and our kids are singing, that’s pretty good high school sports.”