2013-14 Varsity Basketball Outlook

Last year, Trinity Varsity Basketball had a season to remember. Led by star point guard Jaylen Hinton at the helm of the offense last year, we went to the Prep League Title Game for the second year in a row, once again playing the Christchurch Seahorses. For all of you that don't remember what happened on that historic day, here is a reminder. That shot reminded us why we all support, love, and cheer our hearts out for Trinity basketball. This year, though not with Jaylen on the team, expectations are still high for this group of guys. 4 out of the starting five from last year, Junior Josh Brown, Senior Abraham Ferrell-Logan, and Senior Nathan Swift and Senior Austin Williams. Titans will look for more production from their bench players this year, especially new coming transfer Guard Eli Reece. They will also look to Sophomore Anthony Roberson to step up and provide a more pivotal role in the offense, with him likely starting at Small Forward throughout the season. The Titans will get a test early in their season and Prep League opener on Tuesday, December 3rd when they play a revamped Woodberry Forrest team. Trinity swept the the season series with Woodberry last year. Trinity will also see what Josh Brown can do handling the point guard position about half of the time that he's on the court, as he will try to adjust from being the 2 guard to the three and facilitating the ball. Josh was the teams third highest scorer last year, only behind Abe-Ferrell Logan and Jaylen. Titans will also look for revenge against Prep League foes FUMA and Christchurch, both teams that they struggle against last year, but beat them when it mattered in the postsason. If things work out, Trinity could face cross-town foe Benedictine 4 times during the course of the season if they get far enough in the TDIT, BCCC, and in the State Tournament. This could realistically happen and would be a great test for Trinity and a chance to get revenge, as they lost to Benedictine by 1 last year.
Update: In the first poll of the year, Trinity was ranked 8th in the Times-Dispatch Top Ten state rankings.

Projected starters for Trinity:  G Josh Brown, G Abe Ferrell-Logan F Anthony Roberson F Nathan Swift and F Austin Williams.
Key producers off of the bench: G Zane Lewis G Eli Reece G Camm Johnson G Aaron Duhart F Jake Brown, F Weston Hannon-Bogosh.

The guys will look for a leader on the floor this year, hoping to rally around the 5 seniors on the team in Camm, Thomas Graziano, Abe, Austin, and Nathan. They will look to sprinting out of the gate in hopes of another Prep League Championship and to go to the State finals and will be in the talk all season for the State ring.

Key Games: December 3rd @ Woodberry Forrest (Win), December 13th VS Christchurch School, December 20-23: Richmond Times-Dispatch Tournament, December 27-29: BCCC Tournament at Benedictine. January 4th VS St. Chris, January 9th @ Benedictine, January 11th @ FUMA, January 24th @ St. Chris, February 4th VS Woodberry Forrest, February 6th VS FUMA, February 11th @ Christchurch.

Best-case scenario: The Titans use their strong leadership and their offense is like one of Duke's and their defense resembles VCU, and they only lose about 5 or 6 games, really soaring into the playoffs down a pivotal stretch of games from the 24th of January to the end of their season at February 11th. They keep the injuries and setbacks limited behind Josh and Abe in the backcourt, and that their big men in Nathan, Austin, and Ant can spread the floor and dominate defenders inside and near the basket. That Zane Lewis, Eli, Camm, and Aaron all provide a spark on the court with their great defensive play and passing ability. The Titans go far in the TDIT, BCCC, and get to the championship of the Virginia Prep Legue Tournament and qualify and win at least 3 games in the Virginia State Tournament.