Boys hoops Top 10, 12/1/09

Boys basketball
Preseason Top 10

1. John Marshall – 08-09 (state semifinalist, Central Region finalist, Colonial District champion)
* The Justices lost some seasoned firepower, but still have Wake Forest-bound Travis McKie. Tahir Little can flat-out run the point-guard spot. Watch out for a slew of newcomers, including Willie Mangum.

2. Meadowbrook – 08-09 (region quarterfinalist)
* The Monarchs have three starters back (Andrew Simmons, Andre Coble and Jaquan Daily). Two newcomers bolster this lineup, former Varina 6-6 big man Marvin King-Davis and guard Harry West, a sharpshooter who played as a sophomore. Talent is there to win an ultra-tough Central District.

3. Thomas Dale – 08-09 (region quarterfinalist)
* Did I say ultra-tough? The Knights have four starters back, including 6-5 Andrew White and 6-4 Malcolm King. How quickly can Ariek Green get into football shape is a question mark. Coach Eddie Goss likes several newcomers, including transfer Michael Eaton.

4. Petersburg – 08-09 (state semifinalist, Central Region and Central District champion)
* The Wave waved goodbye to dynamite seniors, Cadarian Raines, Chris Evans, Drejon Scott and Chris Moore, to name four. The cupboard is not bare. Look for DuVaughn Maxwell to be a force. Frank Mason got quality time as a freshman PG last season. Kevin Green and Quinton Spain will bring their football toughness to the hardwood. What a tough district.

5. Highland Springs – 08-09 (region semifinalist, Capital District champion)
*
Another year, another new lineup. The Springers have shooters galore, led by Jarvis Threatt, Darryl Lewis and Javon Jones. Marcel Crump transferred over from Varina. Volleyball star Quentin Moore joins the group and adds some height to go with beefy Derrick Hopkins. Coach George Lancaster doesn’t see what he wants early, though.

6. Cosby – 08-09 (region qualifier)
* The biggest team in the region is pitted here. Abundant scorer David Robinson, a Longwood signee, leads a promising group that showed well in the Dominion District tournament last season. Matt Gorski (6-11), his brother Nick (6-6), Zach Floyd (6-8), Daniel Virak (6-6) and Zach Roman (6-6) provide a college-sized front line. Guard play may be key, as talented freshman Nick Coppola will see extensive action and has looked good in the preseason.

7. L.C. Bird – 08-09 (region quarterfinalist)
* Some terrific players are gone, but firepower remains. Ken Pankey is one of the most deadly shooters in the area. Anthony Harris is coming off of a football injury. How soon will he be ready? Skyhawks will be usual scrappy selves, playing a full-court game.

8. Douglas Freeman – 08-09 (region quarterfinalist)
* You have to look for a drop off when you lose two Division I players like the Rebels did. But don’t forget about DF. Junior Justin Mann is a solid PG, in his third year starting. Philip Rohrer is as tough as it gets on the wing, and look out for 6-4 Patrick O’Connor. The Rebels also have a young, athletic team that will play some tough defense.

9. Hopewell – 08-09 (region qualifier)
* The Blue Devils were young last year and still made noise. The leader will be junior Pedro Berrios, a preseason all-DigitalSports pick at 6-4. David Rose and David Gholson are guards who can get it done.

10. Henrico – 08-09 (region semifinalist)
* What could have been. The Warriors had preseason No. 1 written all over them until Trey Davis transferred to Benedictine, and Justin Coleman departed to Huntington Prep in West Virginia. Coach Vance Harmon still has talent, led by Kris Walden. Look out for freshman guard Timmy Jones. Evan Thorpe has a year under his belt playing small in the trenches.

Others to watch
Benedictine – They’d be No. 1 if allowed in the Central Region rankings. Loaded everywhere. Trey Davis, Michael Gbinije, R.J. Price, Kevin Gill and Erik Moody are all college-bound, scholarship-type players.
Collegiate – Jake McGee lights up scoreboards in football and basketball.
Deep Run – Senior PG Jay Johnson needs to step to the fore for coach Rally Axselle.
Hermitage – Micah Thomas is back for a sophomore year after putting in 15 per contest as a freshman.
J.R. Tucker – The Tigers can field a senior-laden lineup featuring Chase and Zach Desgain (junior), Trevone Caiby (6-5), Matt Camfield and Jabari Nesbitt.
Mills Godwin – Coach Hunter Thomas looks to have four 3-point shooters on the floor. Dangerous team to play against if those bombs are going down.
Varina – QuVaughn Jones leads one of the youngest teams in the area.