by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
When you have success like Huguenot’s boys basketball team did last season, expectations rise for everyone; coaches, players, fans, alumni.
That’s true for coach Antone Exum, too. But he doesn’t want to get too giddy about his Falcons, ranked second in the DigitalSports Top 10 preseason poll.
“I like to say I’m cautiously optimistic,” Exum said. “I’m really not sure how things will turn out.”
The Falcons reached the Central Region semifinals last year before losing to eventual region and state champion Highland Springs.
Three starters return from that unit in guards David Brown and Erick Scipio, and forward Mikyel Nero.
The Falcons lost a good post player in Greg Grant to graduation, but gained the 6-7 Jarius King in last season’s second semester.
He returns along with 6-6 football player Jonathan Crawley, who was out for the Falcons last season.
“This is the first time we’ve had Jonathan Crawley from the start,” Exum said. “That’s a positive. That was unexpected.”
Those five give Exum a solid nucleus that should give anyone a problem in the region and a tough district that includes a talented L.C. Bird team and an up-and-coming Cosby squad.
Not to mention a 6-3 wing in junior Corey Sheppard that’s coming into his own. Then Malcolm Berkley we’ll be ready for the second semester.
But Exum is still sitting at the yellow light in his green Falcon mobile until this year’s Falcons prove they belong with the elite.
“I attack it from the standpoint of last year was last year,” Exum said. “For the new year, we haven’t accomplished anything yet. I just want them to attack every game as if it was a championship game.”
2006-07 record: 14-2 Dominion, 21-4
Coach: Antone Exum, third season, 25-22
Key players:
Mikyel Nero, 6-3, Sr., F – Good midrange game, tough slasher and finisher
Erick Scipio, 5-11, Sr., G – Good shooter, explosive
David Brown, 5-10, Jr., PG – Improving decision-making, nice 3-point shot
Jarius King, 6-7, Jr., F/C – “He really solidified our middle,” Exum said. “Big presence, big body.”
Jonathan Crawley, 6-6, Jr., C – A dancing bear. “He’s done some things that you don’t expect from a 300-pound kid.”
Corey Sheppard, 6-3, Jr., F – 3-point sniper. “I’m actually expecting Corey to have a pretty good year.”
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