Team Preview: Woodberry Forest
Classification: VISAA D1 Conference: Prep League Head Coach: Craig Dawson Last Season: 10-11 Key Games: 12/3 – @ St. Stephen's & St. Agnes (Sleepy Thompson) 12/8 – vs. Miller School 12/12 – @ Episcopal 12/15 – @ St. Anne's Belfield 1/15 – vs.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingCraig Dawson enters his fourth season as Head Boys Basketball Coach at Woodberry Forest School. In each of his first three seasons, the Tigers have seen their win total improve. Last year, they started three freshmen on a team which featured 8 seniors, and managed to grind out a 10-11 record in the gauntlet known as the Virginia Prep League. A signature win from last year's campaign came at home over eventual regular season league champion St. Anne's Belfield.
The Tigers lose their leading scorer and rebounder, Luke Neely, who is now a freshman student athlete on the Randolph Macon Mens Basketball Team. Coach Dawson is very confident that Clark Yarbrough, a 6-foot-6 280-pound Stanford Football Signee, will be able to do some exciting things as the starting Center this season.
“Clark has the best footwork out of any kid on our team. Plays offensive line. Can really move,” Dawson stated. “He carries his weight well; doesn’t look like he’s 280. Definitely our presence in the paint.”
Yarbrough is an excellent passer, and was second on the team in assists last season. Coach Dawson refers to him as their “Andrew Bogut”. The Tigers were a very unselfish bunch last year. 69% of their field goals came via the assist. Dawson believes that will be a big reason for their success.
“You don’t find many teams that have a number quite that high.” Said Dawson. “I think the biggest thing is they are willing to move the ball willing to make the right play and not really care who’s scoring. Their chemistry I think is going to be the biggest reason that we’re successful.”
Two sophomores, Joe Foley and Max Johns, return as major contributors for Woodberry Forest. Foley, who is a native of California, started every game in his freshman season. He averaged 8 points and 5 assists, while committing just 2 turnovers per contest. Many took notice of his impact, and he was named Scrimmage Play Newcomer of the Year. Max Johns, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from High Point, NC, has grown about two-and-a-half inches and added 16-pounds since his freshman season. Both kids are excellent students, and are already receiving D1 interest. The Tigers bring a lot of experience back, and rightfully so, have reasons for optimism.
“I really feel good about what we have, and what we have coming back,” said Coach Dawson. “The fact that a lot of these guys are playing sports together already; being able to gel and learn one another. Hopefully we can carry that over quickly to the basketball court.”
The Tigers will travel to Alexandria and begin their season in the 60th Annual Sleepy Thompson Tournament December 3-5. They will face the home team, SSSAS, on Thursday, December 3 at 7PM.