Ball Night in De La Warr: Preseason Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whenever I need background information on prospects throughout the state or just want to talk ball, I call Devaughn Bynum (IG @ BruceWain11) from “Ball Night in De La Warr.” He's a videographer, coach, trainer, and my most trusted source. So we sat down to preview some of our favorite teams ahead of the 24-25 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. What game are you most excited to watch?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB: Dover vs. William Penn 12/04/2024 @ 6 pm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How much more can you ask for in a season opening match up? The two biggest schools in Delaware? Check. The defending Champs? Check. Two defensive juggernauts? Check. The debut of one top rising freshman in recent memory ([player_tooltip player_id='2459417' first='Kyndal' last='Riley-Garlick'] aka Birdie)? Check. I could go on! With this being a rare match up between two of the state's most historic programs, there are still so many questions to be answered with these teams this season. How will the returning and incoming Dover players adjust to their new roles post championship? How quick will William Penn's youth get adjusted to the speed of varsity basketball? Which team's big men will step up? With Coach Stephon Wilson (Dover) and Coach Gary Lumpkin (William Penn), two heavyweights when it comes to coaches in Delaware, we know that these teams will be well prepared for what the other has to throw at them.Side note: The last time William Penn crossed the St. George's Bridge, they beat a LOADED Seaford team en route to the Bob in 2023...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CG: Salesianum vs. Sanford 2/01/25 @ 8 pm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every year, this is a game where you have to throw out the records. Sanford beat Sallies in 2023 before Sallies went on to win the state title. And last year Sallies got revenge, first during the regular season, then at home in the state quarterfinals. Even their summer league game was intense! The 2025 edition will come down to the matchup between two close friends, [player_tooltip player_id='2352339' first='RJ' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2352336' first='Jayden' last='Taylor']. The Rutgers football commit will be surrounded by a new supporting cast, while Taylor will have key returners around him. Both squads have a cluster of guards to run out there. But [player_tooltip player_id='2352450' first='Trevor' last='Webster'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2352454' first='Kevin' last='Coleman'] could be x-factors. The other reason I picked this game is because it's for a great cause. It's the finale of the SL24 Unlocke the Light Classic, the annual showcase at the Fieldhouse, focused on changing the narrative around mental health and connecting the youth with resources throughout the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. Who is your DIAA “League Pass” Team?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB: St. Andrew's. It's not often in Delaware that you get one 6'8" or above high caliber bigs. St. Andrew's has two with [player_tooltip player_id='2352338' first='Darnell' last='Lloyd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2352337' first='Elijah' last='Proctor-Moore']. The D1 caliber bigs look to lead St. Andrew's back to the tournament after a two year hiatus. They'll be must TV with their ability to play above the rim. Also, senior Joshua Ho will look to have a bigger impact this season for their backcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CG: St. Georges. The Seahawks get up and down with their intense style of play, that's fun to watch. They have a bunch of athletic wings and forwards like [player_tooltip player_id='2352452' first='Josh' last='Obiora'], [player_tooltip player_id='2387969' first='Jayden' last='Reid'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2488689' first='Amere' last='Rhoades'] who will clog the lane and make plays that allow St. Georges to get out in transition where their guards are at home. Flight A is also going to be a gauntlet this season with them, Appo, Middletown, Odessa, and William Penn all being legit contenders to win. So, not only will the Seahawks be a good litmus test for everyone they play, but tuning in to their games should provide a front row seat to the chaos in Flight A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Who are your Playoff Party Crashers, the team that may not get a first round bye, but could upset a top team ahead of them and go on a run?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB: Conrad. Losing an all-star starter, [player_tooltip player_id='2352451' first='Latrell' last='Wright'], is never easy, but Conrad looks to ride the ship and shock some teams in the state. The loss puts the Red Wolves exactly where they want to be. Under the radar. You'll be hard pressed to find many other schools who have more long range threats ([player_tooltip player_id='2473347' first='Vinny' last='Starr'], [player_tooltip player_id='2450817' first='Marcel' last='Ramirez'], [player_tooltip player_id='2364683' first='Shane' last='Lopez']). Their multi-sport athletes, [player_tooltip player_id='2639211' first='Jax' last='Winterringer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2639213' first='Nyaire' last='Coleman'], give this team their backbone with their commitment to doing the dirty work. [player_tooltip player_id='2567608' first='Brion' last='Moses'] and newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='2639214' first='AJ' last='James'] give them interior length that they've lacked in the past. [player_tooltip player_id='2633962' first='Jordan' last='Kennedy'] and newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='2569489' first='Clint' last='Cauley'] give them athleticism on the wings on both ends that will make them a hassle to deal with. And freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2566662' first='Justin' last='Webb'] will be able to contribute early at the guard position. With that being said, Conrad is not a team to be taken lightly. It wouldn't surprise me to see them win a tournament game, or two, or three….</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CG: Appoquinimink. When you have the best point guard in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='2352342' first='Daniel' last='Harvey'], your team has a shot to be in every game. He'll unquestionably have the keys to the Jags offense and they have other veterans around him. Two-sport athletes [player_tooltip player_id='2352345' first='Riley' last='Buzby'] (soccer) and [player_tooltip player_id='2634831' first='Dillon' last='Griffith'] (football) are tough defenders who will get their hands dirty, while [player_tooltip player_id='2447303' first='Jace' last='Thompson'] is a shot-maker primed for a breakout season of his own. They'll have to win on the margins and execute perfectly. But I think they know who they are and will play within themselves, allowing them to exploit the mistakes of a team ranked ahead of them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Who do you pick to make it to the Bob?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB: Dover, Sallies, St. Elizabeth....</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CG: Dover, Sanford, Sallies, and Odessa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->