NORTH HOLLYWOOD — New opportunities, a fresh start and three seasons of gratitude expressed all the same from longtime San Fernando Valley-based high school basketball coach Joe Wyatt after his tenure ended at Sun Valley Poly.
“I just think it was time,” Wyatt said. “Looking for growth and continue what I’ve been building in my coaching career. That was kind of the starting point for everything.”
Wyatt enters a new chapter at North Hollywood after being announced as the Huskies’ latest head coaching hire on Thursday afternoon.
Wyatt inherits a program that finished 15-14 overall and 9-3 in the East Valley League during the 2025-26 season and returns leading scorer Noah Logan, who averaged 17.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and shot 40% from the field last season as a sophomore.
Junior Abraham Camara averaged 12.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and shot 42%, while senior Alex Luis averaged 9.3 points and shot 49%.
“I think our talent is pretty good and got some L.A. guys that want to work out and try out,” Wyatt said. “I’m looking to win a championship this year and next season.”
Wyatt captured the CIF L.A. City Section Division I title in 2025 with Poly and El Camino Real in 2014, where he coached until the 2021-22 season and compiled a record of 127-113.
After a year off, Wyatt took over Poly. Poly was 12-17 in 2022-23 before Wyatt built a competitive infrastructure around his son JD Wyatt. Two years later, Poly won its first City Section title since 1999 and third title overall.
Poly advanced to the CIF State Division III quarterfinals behind JD Wyatt, who averaged 28.5 points a game and was named the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Player of the Year.
While Wyatt’s hunger to win hasn’t changed, his approach towards achieving his team’s overall goals has adapted.
“I would say I’m more old school but as I’ve gotten older I can’t be too crazy on kids,” Wyatt said. “Just building a culture, holding kids accountable and but being young at heart. If you bond with the kids, respect them and they’ll respect you more. You have to be hard but not just be the hard coach all the time. They have to know they can have someone to text, call and be someone to talk to. I think that will go a long way.”
Wyatt finished 52-39 in three seasons at Poly.
North Hollywood won its lone CIF boys basketball title in 3A, led by coach Steve Miller in 1990.
North Hollywood has produced professional-level boys basketball talent in the past. Notable players include 6-foot-5 power forward Andy Johnson, who played three seasons for the Philadelphia Warriors, including with Wilt Chamberlain during the legendary center’s two seasons from 1959-1961 before averaging a career high 14.3 points with the Chicago Packers (now the Washington Wizards) during his last season with the NBA in 1961-62.
Former WCC 1993 Player of the Year Dana Jones from Pepperdine graduated from North Hollywood in 1989 and former Stanford point guard Arthur Lee graduated in 1995. Lee was named to the All Pac-10 first team in 1999.
Wyatt explained how he wants his new players to be “defensive-minded” when initially approaching practice and games.
“Everyone can play defense and everyone can rebound,” Wyatt said. “Some guys are going to be better defensively, shooting, getting to the basket, and I’ve always been a coach that lets kids play. Not too free but letting them find themselves, getting downhill and always giving kids an opportunity. But everyone has to buy in and work hard. If you have energy and passion, I’ll always play a kid like that.”