During the JV Revere Men’s Basketball game on February 7, Michael Rahas scored a number of three pointers in the duration of the game. During that game his dad, Head Coach Dean Rahas was watching the game closely from the sideline. Michael, his son, was one of very few freshmen playing on JV. After the win that night, it was clear that Michael was soon to be playing on Varsity.
In February Michael Rahas got brought up to the Varsity team, during the basketball season. Freshman Rahas had a high shooting percentage during his JV basketball career. His dad, Dean Rahas, the head Varsity men’s basketball coach for RHS, pulled him up from JV to the varsity roster during the 2024-2025 season.
“After the Benedictine JV game, I got pulled up. My jersey was in the locker room,” Michael Rahas said.
On January 25, Rahas was sitting on the bench during the Varsity game after he played in the JV game. Rahas earned a Varsity jersey. He then proceeded to sit on the bench for the majority of the Varsity games and was considered a sub. Rahas was the only freshman to be pulled up from JV to Varsity and get varsity minutes.
“[Rahas] is a gifted shooter. He has a good shot. He shoots the ball well, and he is able to score. But also he makes guys around him better. I think that’s a big thing,” Head Coach Dean Rahas said.
Rahas got along well with the Varsity players because his dad coached them regularly. Uriah Pulliam, a junior who starts on the Varsity team, detailed the difference between Varsity and JV.
“Varsity basketball is definitely faster paced. [Varsity players] are more physical, and they have a higher IQ in terms of basketball. So it definitely makes it a little more challenging, but once you play it for a couple of seasons, you start to get used to it and it becomes easier,” Pulliam said.
Rahas’ seamless transition to Varsity not only highlights his athleticism but also underscores his ability to adapt to a more demanding level of competition. As Pulliam notes, the jump from JV to Varsity comes with significant challenges and higher basketball IQ; however, Rahas’ ability to contribute minutes as a freshman suggests he possessed both the skill and the mental toughness required to compete at Varsity level.
“Michael has grown in that sense where he doesn’t need to score a lot of points to affect the game. He can affect the game in other ways, which is really cool because some guys, when they aren’t scoring, they don’t play defense, they don’t get any assists or they don’t get any steals,” Dean Rahas said.
The relationship between Rahas and his father extends beyond a player-coach dynamic. Basketball strengthens their bond, but at home, they do not always focus on basketball.
“I don’t want him to be [playing] basketball 24/7; he’s got to have some downtime. I don’t want to jam it down his throat. I don’t want to be one of those dads who smothers his kid about sports. If he wants to talk, I’ll talk. I never tried to pressure him a lot,” Dean Rahas said.
Rahas enjoys basketball, and because his dad is the head Varsity coach, they connect on that level deeply. As the only freshman who got pulled up to varsity, there were a number of feelings Rahas had.
“I felt excited to play Varsity, that was the biggest emotion. I wasn’t nervous. I was more confident than nervous,” he said.
Confidence grows with playing at higher levels. Pulliam explained that at the Varsity level, the basketball IQ increases, which can be challenging for younger players to develop.
“I definitely have a lot more confidence, definitely on myself because I’ve shown myself that I can play at a higher level by my good performances. I’ve also learned from my mistakes that I made freshman and sophomore year, and it just helps you get better from experience,” Pulliam said.
This quote adds another layer to Rahas’ impact on the court as his shooting ability was key in his promotion to Varsity. His overall athletic ability made him an asset to the Varsity team.
As Rahas built on his early success and gained experience at the Varsity level, he developed confidence, skill, and resilience.
