photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Bishop Seabury junior Chase Honarvar finds the hoop during a game with St. Mary's on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at Bishop Seabury Academy.

The Bishop Seabury Seahawks finished 13 points short of a first-ever boys basketball state championship in March. After a 21-win season that set a school record, the Seahawks lost 76-63 in the 1A Division I state championship game.

The loss became a motivation for the team — a team that, for the most part, is staying together. For those rising seniors, last year’s season brought new energy to the offseason.

One of those rising seniors is Chase Honarvar, a 6-foot-7 center who was one of the top bigs in Kansas. He led the state with more than seven blocks per game and was second in rebounds with more than 15 per contest. This summer, with championship aspirations, Honarvar has gotten stronger and faster with goals of parlaying his season into a Division I basketball scholarship.

Honarvar is a natural big man, which shows in his state-leading statistics. His motor helps him make those tough plays in rebounds and on defense. But Honarvar has worked on expanding his skill sets to play more of a stretch-4 role, which is the play style toward which higher levels of basketball are continuing to trend.

“In the past, I was mainly in the paint… I wasn’t that fast,” Honarvar said. “But I’ve been working on more of a wing style of play. That’s what people have told me I need to be in college. Since I met my trainer in ninth grade, we’ve been working on that wing stuff. We still do a lot of post stuff, but we’re working on driving, (being) more confident and a better dribble, better shot.”

Becoming an outside shooter and more of a dynamic athlete are things that Honarvar has worked on specifically this offseason, but it’s something that he has developed for several years. Playing outside can help the Seahawks be tougher to guard and help Honarvar get to the next level.

The Seahawks’ growth during head coach Trey Johnson’s first year featured big strides from its junior class, Honarvar included. Johnson had been an assistant coach for the team in previous seasons, and the internal hire was a big reason why the team continued on its path forward.

“The group that has stayed has been together for three years — so we all came up together,” Honarvar said. “Our team has improved since last year. Our depth has improved, and that’ll help.”

The Seahawks’ biggest loss was senior Aidan Page, a guard who averaged 14 points per game. His role on the team will be a challenge to fill, but Honarvar believes in his teammates, particularly their overall depth. The team has spent a lot of time together this offseason, building on their relationships and chemistry. Coupled with a second year under Johnson’s leadership, the Seahawks like their odds.

Honarvar is going through the college recruiting process with his teammate Jace Smith, the team’s point guard and a rising senior who averaged over 16 points per game last year.

So far, Honarvar has visited several colleges across California, including San Diego State University, the runner-up in the 2023 national championship game against UConn. The recruitment process can be stressful, but it has been calmer with his dad (an assistant coach for the Seahawks) and Smith accompanying him. When picking a team, Honarvar said he’s looking for whichever school can help him continue his basketball career the longest.

“Whether it’s after college or the most playing time in college… whatever I can do to lengthen my playing career in basketball is what I’m looking for,” Honarvar said.

But college is still in the distance. For now, Honarvar has big expectations for this coming basketball season. It’s one last chance to play with longtime teammates for the Seahawks and one last chance to win the state championship. After years of building and steps forward, Honarvar is confident this is the year the team can go all the way.