His role was much simpler last year. <b>T.C. Williams</b> guard Edward Jenkins had one mission as a member of the Titans’ state championship squad a season ago. Put the ball in the basket.
Jenkins did that with alarming frequency considering the wealth of senior talent surrounding the then-junior, who finished as the Titans second-leading scorer. His work didn’t go unnoticed, either, as Jenkins was named 1st-team Patriot district by the league’s coaches.
But gone are players like Anthony Winbush and Travis Berry, who could shoulder the scoring load alongside Jenkins on last season’s remarkable team that compiled a 29-3 record. Now the onus is on one player to fill the void.
“He’s one of those kids that accepted his role very well last year and there were times when we wanted him to score more, but he’s really unselfish,” said first-year T.C. Williams coach Julian King, who was an assistant on last year’s state title team. “But this year, he’s going to have a lot on his shoulders. He’s our standout guy this year.”
First and foremost for King, though, is helping his team emerge from beneath the shadows of last year’s historic season.
Since taking over for his old boss Ivan Thomas, King has heard all the chatter around Alexandria about his team’s chances to repeat, but he also understands those expectations are probably unreasonable. He just wants this team to develop its own identity before getting into how good they could be.
“I tell the kids don’t worry about what they hear outside our team and don’t worry about following in the footsteps of last year’s team because if you do that you’re going to put too much pressure on yourself,” said King. “We don’t need that because we already have to worry about teams getting up to play us.”
Don’t think King is preparing his team for the worst, though. On the contrary, despite losing nine seniors from a year ago, T.C. Williams looks poised to make another run in the Patriot District utilizing its athleticism and high-octane offense.
“That state title we got, it’s here, but now we’ve got to defend that state title so we can have more to talk about this year,” said Jenkins. “We’ve got to put everything behind us, and just get back to work.”
<b>THERE WERE NO</b> championship banners to celebrate at St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes last season, not after the team stumbled to an uncharacteristically bad 7-20 record a year ago.
The mounting losses were a new feeling for a program that took home the IAC regular season crown in 2007 and the IAC tournament title in 2006. But with 11 returning players from last season, coach Kevin McClintock thinks the Saints are on the cusp of bringing the program back to its more familiar spot atop the standings.
“Last year was tough on all of us, but at the same time I think we got stronger as a team after what we went through,” said McClintock. “I think they’re ready to reclaim where we were prior to last season.”
McClintock will rely on the play of 6-foot-4 junior Jack Hamilton, the team’s leading returning scorer. The coach is also expecting a big year from sophomore sharpshooter Dextor Lindsay. Seniors Reggie Newsome and Tyler Mann are also back from season-ending injuries a year ago.
<b>THE RETURN</b> of senior Given Kalipende, a Division-I level point guard, means Episcopal has as good a shot as any to take the IAC crown this year.
The Maroon finished in a tie for second in the IAC, good enough for a 16-8 record overall. But the presence of Kalipende, alongside seniors Jordan Martinez and Yao Sithole, has coach Jim Fitzpatrick confident heading into a more competitive than usual IAC this season.
“Those two guys and Given give me a three-senior combo that is as good as any in our league,” said Fitzpatrick.
<b>BISHOP IRETON</b> coach Marc Vincent knows the early going might be tough for his Cardinals since they will be relying on a starting lineup that is devoid of seniors. But in his third season at the helm, Vincent also considers this the hardest working and most dedicated team he has ever coached.
Led by 6-foot-5 guard Arturo Oberg, a player “not many people know about yet,” according to Vincent, the Saints figure to get better as the season goes along.
“There’s a high commitment and that’s something we haven’t had here,” said Vincent. “I think we’re going to win some games people don’t think we should.”