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2021-22 Blue Hen Boys Basketball Preview

Compiled by Chris Stevens, Editor

Teams who wish to be included can still submit pre-season preview forms. Email us at [email protected] if one is needed.

Missing teams: Christiana, Concord, Delcastle, Glasgow, Hodgson, John Dickinson, McKean, Middletown, Mt. Pleasant, Odessa, St. Georges, William Penn

Flight A

Appoquinimink Jaguars

Head Coach: Tom Purse

2020-21 record: 13-2, Flight A champions, reached DIAA quarterfinals

Key returners: Tommy Vaughn, 5’11 soph. guard, Laneir Harvey, 5’11 jr. guard, Jason Young, 6′ sr. guard, Nate Burlew, 6’7 sr. forward, Owen Parrish, 6’1 jr. guard

Key newcomers: Haji Bell, 5’9 jr. guard

Outlook: The Flight A co-champion Jaguars return a deep and talented backcourt, led by senior Jason Young. Aside from a tough Flight A schedule, Appo will participate in the Boardwalk Classic in Atlantic City over the Christmas break, one of the top high school tournaments on the East Coast.

“The players have worked hard this off season to prepare them for our tough schedule. We have some good talent but not a lot of varsity experience,” head coach Tom Purse says. “We have been working hard to develop our team chemistry and having each player understand their role on the team.”

Newark Yellowjackets
Head Coach: Shannon McCants
2020-21 record: 11-4
Key returners: Kamau Lately, 6’5 sr. forward, Marquise Warren, 5’7 jr. guard, Tivon Woolford, 6’1, jr. guard, Will Ferguson, 5’11 sr. guard.
Key newcomers: Jayden Smith, 6’5 jr. forward, Denzel Whalen-Williams, 6’1 soph. guard
Outlook: With just six players a season ago, Newark amazingly won 11 games and advanced beyond the first round of the state tournament. With 14 players on the roster this season, head coach Shannon McCants hopes that the Yellowjackets (back in Flight A after a two-year stint in Flight B) can be just as competitive.
“We have a full team, which will help us play at a faster pace. We plan on using our quickness and athletic skills to compete in Flight A,” McCants says. “If our guard play is solid, we should be able to surprise some teams this year.”

Flight B

A.I. duPont Tigers 

Head Coach: Samuel Anderson III

2020-21 record: 6-9

Key returners: Ivan Martin 5’11 sr. guard, Marc Handy 6’5 sr. guard/forward, Taje’e Jordan, 6’5 jr. center

Key newcomers: Donte Dockery, 6′ jr. guard, Isaiah Moore, 6’3 sr. forward, Keith Moore, 5’10 jr. guard

Outlook: Could this be the year the Tigers put

it all together? They have size (Handy, Jordan, Isaiah Moore), depth and talent (Handy, Martin, Dockery, etc.). The biggest key, as head coach Sam Anderson admits, will be keeping everyone on the same page. If A.I. can do that, watch out.

“Our goals this season include continuing building of chemistry and creating a strong work ethic will hopefully provide success,” Anderson says.

Brandywine Bulldogs

Head Coach: Ron Moore

2020-21 record: 9-7

Key returners: Nia’Gere Wright, 5’10 sr. guard, Nate Zoladkiewicz, 6’4 sr. forward, Elijah Wright, 5’5 sr. guard, Crisdon Wright, 6′ soph. guard/forward

Key newcomers: Alex Jaeger, 5’8 jr. guard

Outlook: Under former NBA player Ron Moore, the Bulldogs won their first state tournament game since 2013 last year and hope to go even further in ’22 with a solid core that features seniors Nate Zoladkiewicz and Nia’Gere Wright, who have drawn interest from college scouts at the Division II level.

“We can never predict the outcome of a season, however our experience and athleticism will be a factor,” Moore says. “Building off of the rebuild from last season, our senior-led team will be the key to our success. ”

Howard Wildcats
Head Coach: Rahsaan Matthews Sr.
2020-21 record: 12-3, Flight B champions, reached DIAA quarterfinals.
Key returners: Darius Brown Jr., 6’4 sr. wing, Ja’Ontae Holland, 5’8 sr. guard De’mere Hollingsworth, 6’1 sr. guard, Marcus Johnson, 6′ jr. forward, Ayden Richards-Powell, 6’3 jr. wing, Xavier Richards-Powell, 6’3 jr. wing Damien Ross, 6′ jr. guard, RJ Matthews, 6′ soph. guard
Key newcomers: Jameer Deshields, 6′ soph. guard, Armani Rosario, 5’10 soph. guard
Outlook: The Wildcats won Flight B for the first time since their state championship season of 2013 and a repeat may be tough to come by thanks to improvement within the conference. Howard does return 8 players from that team, which should help in the quest for a Flight B title and beyond.
“What the staff has noticed in practice is that we are legit 10 deep and that practice competition is making us stronger,” head coach Rahsaan Matthews Sr. explains. “For us to be most successful, we need to excel on the defensive end and rebound as a team. Our first 10 games we face some very tough competition with Neumann Goretti, Middletown, St. George’s, Newark, Appo, Timber Creek (NJ), and Sanford to name a few. In a perfect world, we win them all, in the event we don’t, we will be extremely battle tested for the second half of the season.”

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