As Lynbrook’s boys basketball program takes off this season, its coaching staff features dedicated mentors with distinct journeys. Having once faced off on the court as opponents, freshmen head coach Ajay Singh and varsity assistant coach Ajit Vijayakumar now bring their shared love of basketball into the program, drawing from their own high school and collegiate experiences.
“The first game I ever watched was LeBron James’ playoff series where he went crazy in the fourth quarter,” Vijayakumar said. “That was the moment where it clicked for me.”
Inspired by the excitement and intensity of the game, Vijayakumar quickly picked up the sport. Although he had played previously, he only began taking basketball seriously in high school.
Singh, however, had a different introduction to sports. His athletic journey began with flag football. After playing four weeks of flag football, he found he disliked the physicality of the sport and decided to transition to basketball where he discovered he had a talent for the game.
Though they attended different schools, Vijayakumar and Singh grew up competing against each other in local basketball leagues. Vijayakumar played at Miller Middle School before moving on to Lynbrook, while Singh played at Hyde Middle School before continuing at Cupertino High School.
One game in particular stands out to both of them — their junior-year matchup, where Singh scored 39 points in a double-overtime victory against Lynbrook.
“I just remember thinking, ‘This guy is that good,’” Vijayakumar said. “We had defensive schemes planned to slow him down but it didn’t matter once he got into that zone.”
Vijayakumar’s passion for basketball continued in college, though not as a player. At UC Santa Barbara, he became a team manager, assisting with operations, practice drills and film reviews.
When COVID-19 disrupted routines, he reached out to his former coach, varsity head coach Richard Appler, who welcomed him back to the Lynbrook program. For Vijayakumar, returning to Lynbrook as a basketball coach was always a goal.
“I just love being around basketball and want to give back so kids can have a great experience,” Vijayakumar said.
After graduating from Cupertino, Singh initially doubted his ability to play at the collegiate level. He began at a community college, where he quickly became the second-leading scorer in California and won his conference’s Most Valuable Player award. He then transferred multiple times, ultimately ending up at Westmont College, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school, where he continued to excel as the team’s leading scorer. After graduating, he played professionally in Eastern Europe and Canada for two years before transitioning to coaching due to a torn labrum.
“I wanted to stick around the game, so I got this coaching gig as a freshman coach,” Singh said. “Now I’m here coaching. I love the guys, and I love my team.”
Both coaches bring distinct perspectives and a shared drive to improve their players. Vijayakumar emphasizes hard work, often drawing parallels between basketball and academics to resonate with Lynbrook’s students.
“You’re not going to ace a test without doing your homework,” Vijayakumar said. “It’s the same with basketball: preparation is key.”
Similarly, Singh hopes his players can learn from his own experience as an athlete and work ethic. Additionally, he looks up to Vijayakumar as a mentor.
Looking ahead, Vijayakumar and Singh hope to see Lynbrook’s boys basketball program become more competitive with top public schools.
“I tell the boys to take it game by game and focus on getting better each time,” Singh said. “We can’t be making the same mistakes we made a month ago. I want us to finish strong this season and aim for a 20-win record.”
