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Largo head coach Lewis Howard and the Largo Lions will aim at repeating as 3A state champions this season
***Additional footage and content will be added throughout the week***
By James A. McCray III
Prince George's County, Content Manager
Look at the earlier parts of this decade and it's crystal clear; Prince George's County was used to having state champions. In 2000 Oxon Hill won a state championship.
In 2002 Eleanor Roosevelt and Potomac each respectively won a state title, and in 2003, Oxon Hill and Friendly added to the county state championships.
In 2004, the county was again home to two state champions as Northwestern and Friendly won the cherished title and in 2005, Potomac won another.
And as the county was accustomed to winning state titles, there was indeed a small hiatus in the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons as the county won no titles.
However, the Largo Lions made a trip to the Comcast Center -- home of the Maryland state basketball championship games -- last season, that two-year drought ended with an 84-58 victory over Long Reach securing the Lions the 3A state title and ending the brief drought.
Largo head coach Lewis Howard leads a Largo team into the 2008-2009 campaign that lost 10 seniors from last season's state title team including center and low-post presence Maurice Sutton.
"No question," Howard responded as to if he was excited about the start of this season. "This is always a fun time, right before the season."
Even with the loss of 10 seniors, the Lions are led by a senior core group of players in senior guard Daquan Markham and senior forwards Malik Thomas, Aaron Martin, and EJ Olumese.
And besides from the talent surrounding the team, it is an additional factor that will help separate the Lions from the rest of the pack.
According to all four athletes, team chemistry is what will help guide the team through the stages of the regular season.
"We are like best friends when it comes to basketball," Thomas said, "and we have great chemistry on the team."
"This team is very close, everyone bonds together," Olumese said in agreement with Thomas. "We go out together; we are like brothers to each other."
Largo finished last season with a 23-4 overall record --including the playoffs-- and will be aiming to repeat as 3A state champions.
However, as each member of the team, Howard included, understands, every team will bring a little extra when playing against the defending state champions.
"That state championship made the program noticeable," Howard said, "and people are gunning for you when you are defending state champs."
The Largo program, according to Howard, is designed to allow seniors to flourish, and that is exactly what the Lions want en route to defending their state title.
On how to defend its title, Markham simply added: "Take one game at a time, win the region ... get home [court] advantage, go to states, and win it all."
LAUREL
Head coach: Antoine Gather (first season)
Last year: 22-5 (4A South regional champions)
After winning its first regional title in 28 years, the Laurel Spartans are no longer a surprise when it walks off of the court with a win.
Nor was it a surprise when the squad took last season's 4A South title that had eluded them for nearly three decades.
And as the 2008-2009 season is set to get started, the Spartans look to continue to ride the wave of momentum that started with last year's regional championship and has high hopes that the 2008-2009 ride will end with a state championship.
Leading the Spartans is first-year head coach Antoine Gather. Gather may be new to the head coaching seat, but not new to the program as he served as an assistant the past seven years which should help the adjustment process for the members of the Spartans squad.
"With a new year, there are new challenges," Gather said. "This year is about meeting expectations. Last year was the first time in [28] years that Laurel has won a regional title and we won't be a surprise any more. Every night teams are going to come at us with their best."
Laurel will be led by a strong senior class. Kilian Azah, Marcus Hebron, Corey Wood, and Romell Blackson -- the latter two making up the Laurel back court --each look to lead the Spartans to consecutive regional champions and quite possibly even more.
"I like this team's aggressiveness," Gather said. " ... We want to win a state championship, anything less than a state championship will be a disappointment."
GWYNN PARK
Head coach: Michael Glick (third season)
Last year: 25-2 (2A South regional champions)
The Gwynn Park boys basketball team may have lost all five starters from last season.
The Yellow Jackets may have lost 95 percent of its offense.
However, Gwynn Park and head coach Michael Glick have not lost the expectations and goals of getting back to the University of Maryland's Comcast Center, site of the Maryland state tournament.
"The goals never change," Glick said. "We want to make it to Comcast."
Although five seniors have departed the program, three seniors will lead the Yellow Jackets into play this season.
Senior guards Keith Thomas and Malachi Malik along with senior forward Maurice Peavy will look to fulfill the goal of earning a state title.
When asked of what he expects from his seniors this season, Glick added simply: "I want to see leadership and consistent scoring."
Also playing in Gwynn Park's favor this upcoming season is the fact that the Yellow Jackets can go eight, nine, and 10 players deep, a fact that should bode well for the team's ability to have players playing roles in multiple positions.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
Head coach: Brendan O'Connell (fourth season)
Last year: 16-6
The 2007-2008 version of the Eleanor Roosevelt Raiders boys basketball team was only two points away from making a trip to the state tournament after a one-point, 57-56, loss to Laurel in last season's 4A south regional championship game.
Despite losing four starters from last year's regional finalist team, the 2008-2009 version of the Raiders will be led by the lone returning starter in senior guard Lasan Kromah.
Kromah will be joined in the back court by point guard Francis Ashe, who will further contribute to the team this year after playing a key role as the team's sixth man last season, and senior guard James Smith.
"We are ready to go," O'Connell said. "We have a good chance at being in the mix. I want to get us playing as good as we can play and contend for the league and for the region."
The point of concern for this year's team is the lack of size, according to O'Connell. However, the fourth-year head coach plans to counter that with his team speed and guard play.
"Our big guys are young," O'Connell said. "We don't really have a shot blocker and that makes [defensive] rebounding an important factor for us."
On his team thought process entering the season, O'Connell added: "We have a lot of team speed. We have good guards and we will look to play fast."
HENRY WISE
Head coach: O.J. Johnson (third season)
Last year: 18-6
In only its second year as program last season, the Henry Wise Pumas boys basketball team advanced to the 4A South regional semifinals on the heels of a successful 17-5 regular season.
And although the season was cut short, advancing back to that point of the year in the 2008-2009 season, if not further, is definitely a goal of the Pumas.
"We returned three of five starters from last season," Wise head coach O.J. Johnson said, " and we have a good nucleus of guys."
The three returning players for the Pumas -- all seniors-- include point guard Phillip Wood, shooting guard David Golladay, and forward Delonta Boyd.
According to Johnson, Golladay looks to be the top threat with his outside shooting, that, alongside good play from all of the guards.
The guard-play will help account for a lack of size for this year's team.
"We are not big," Johnson said. "We look to use our speed and quickness along with our pressure [defense] to win games."
On the season, Johnson added: "One of our goals is to be competitive every night. We want to get one of the top seeds in the 4A South. We just have to step up to the plate."
Boys basketball notes:
Potomac makes a coaching change coming into the 2008-2009 season as first-year head coach Torrence Oxendine takes over as head of the program.
"We have a decent crew of ball-handlers," Oxendine said. "All we want to do is come out and compete every night."
tmccray@digitalsports.com
