Preseason AAA Hoops Top 25 - 25-21
"Verdana","sans-serif"'>We begin our Preseason AAA Hoops Top 25 Countdown with
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teams #25 through 21 below . . .
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21. Thomas Edison - -
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amount of progress the Eagles have made from going 1-19 three years ago to
reaching the Group AAA State Tournament last season, their first trip since
1970, is rather remarkable. Coach Terry
Henderson relied heavily on the twin tower combination of Matt Murphy and Ty
class=SpellE>Mackall down low, but those two graduated, meaning the
backcourt will be in the spotlight.
Markus Brumsey Jr. and Chief
class=SpellE>Amoah give them two quality guards that can create off the
bounce and pressure the basketball defensively.
Edison will have to make up for that front-court scoring and rebounding
they lose in Mackall and Murphy, though, and improve
their outside shooting, which cost them in the 68-61 State Playoff loss to
Petersburg when they shot 0-for-10 from beyond the arc.
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>22.
style=> Gar-Field - -
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Winning
their first 23 games a season ago, the Gar-Field Indians went on to grab the
Northwest Region Tournament crown before falling to Kecoughtan
in the State Tournament quarterfinals to cap one of the finest years in school
history on the hardwood. Gone is
All-State guard Marcus 'Smoke' Knight, but they'll be just fine in the
backcourt with a couple of All-Cardinal District selections in Navy commit Zach
Fong (66 3's) and Curtis Lovitt (13.3PPG).
style=> Most importantly, Gar-Field has developed a
winning mentality and confidence that will give them an edge most nights when
they take the court. Beyond Fong and
class=SpellE>Lovitt, the Indians have to identify who else they can
count on for consistent minutes and productivity because there's not a ton of
size or depth for Coach Andy Gray.
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>23.
style=> Battlefield - -
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starters return for the Bobcats after notching a 12-11 mark in year one under
Coach Kurt Pauly.
Six-foot-1 senior Roman Hall (12PPG) is a four-year starter and speedy
off the bounce; 6-foot-4 senior wing Terrell Walker (10PPG) is a three-year starter
that affects the game in a variety of ways; and 6-foot-3 junior guard Trevor
class=SpellE>Blondin has stellar touch from long distance.
style=> In addition, Battlefield returns junior guard
Jamison Glover and Kameron Hedgepeth,
a dynamic 6-foot-2 sophomore that contributed quite a bit as a freshman.
style=> Look for this program to be on the rise for
years to come with four members from a J.V. team that went 33-2 over the past
two seasons moving up the ladder.
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>24.
style=> Cosby - -
10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Led by Second Team
All-State performer Troy Caupain, a fearless attacker
who averaged 25 points per game as a junior, the Cosby Titans are looking to
follow up their Dominion District Tournament crown with another solid
campaign. To go with him, the Titans
have one of the better freshmen around in Justin Henry.
style=> Outside of the Cincinnati signee
class=SpellE>Caupain and Jarek
class=SpellE>Frankovich, there isn't a great amount of experience, plus Coach
Ronald Carr has concerns about their size and depth against some of the upper
echelon teams in the Central Region.
However, when Caupain is on and if Henry
develops on schedule, this team will threaten again in the Dominion District.
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>25.
style=> Landstown - -
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11 seasons under Coach Dwight Robinson, the Landstown
Eagles have gone 187-86 with a record of 103-39 in Beach District play.
style=> All four perimeter starters from last year's
team in Tim Marshall, D.J. Roberson, Sedric
class=SpellE>Nady and Tyri Morring
moved on to the next level. Diminutive
5-foot-6 point guard Jordan Roberson is the pulse of the team and plays with
terrific energy and hustle every possession.
Robinson's teams are always aggressive defensively with various presses and
traps, but they now finally have a true inside presence to fall back on in
6-foot-8 sophomore center Darius Bolstad.
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Honorable Mention: Bethel, Patrick
Henry-Roanoke, Fairfax, Nansemond River and Meadowbrook
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href="http://matthewhatfield.com/Basketball/2012-13_GroupAAA_HighSchool_BasketballSchedules.pdf">The
2012-13 Group AAA Basketball Schedules with Results & Standings
href="http://matthewhatfield.com/Basketball/2011-12_GroupAAA_HighSchool_BasketballSchedules.pdf">
class=GramE>
line-height:115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The
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115%;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> 2011-12 Group AAA Basketball
Schedules with Results & Standings
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115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-decoration:none;text-underline:
none'>Matthew Hatfield
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serves as State Basketball Analyst for
href="http://www.virginiapreps.com">
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text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>VirginiaPreps.com
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Network. Check out
href="http://www.twitter.com/hatfieldsports">
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Hatfield's Twitter page
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115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> for more sports related info and
updates. To contact Matthew, please
e-mail
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none'>hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com,
and don't forget to listen to him on the VirginiaPreps.com Hour every Saturday
at 11AM on
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none'>ESPN Radio 94.1
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