Preseason Midlands boys basketball Top 10 poll
1. Blythewood
Coach: Ezekiel Washington , Jr
Last Year: 18-10
Key Returnees: Trae Churn, Eli Lake, Keiwan Hammond, Ramel Johnson, Jacobi Bailey, Keith Matthews, Khalil Shakir-Harris, Cameron Wormack, Sekwan Jenkins, Josh Bowers
Newcomers To Watch: Robert Braswell , Charles Jackson , Savion Dawkins, Kameron Manuel, Kameron Riley
2. Keenan
COACH: Zach Norris
LAST YEAR: 21-8
KEY LOSSES: Antwan Holmes, Kendrick Gathers, Javontae Davis
KEY RETURNEES: Tarik Simmons, Majerle Poole, Lamarcus Johnson, Ja’Quan Osborne
3. A.C. Flora
COACH: Joshua Staley (12 years, 230-66)
LAST YEAR: 26-4
KEY LOSSES: Karl Gamble Jr, James Murray-Boyles, Rion Davis, and Tyler Gray
KEY RETURNEES: Kendale Hampton, James Reese, Brandon Davis, Thomas Hollingsworth, and Diamanté Brown, Dawson Thornton
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Christian Brown, Daniel Finney Harper and Matthew Jamison
4. Irmo
COACH: Tim Whipple (35th year, 673-255)
LAST YEAR: 23-4
KEY LOSSES: Trae Magwood, Chris Boyd, Devontae Shuler and Anthony Jones
KEY RETURNEES: Ta’Vonne Bond, Dre’von Sweat, Tony Brice, RJ Gunn, Jalen Wilson
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Shyheem Edwards, Noah Jenkins, Winston Hill, Raekwon Heath
5. Richland Northeast
COACH: Aaron Lucas
LAST YEAR: 10-11
KEY LOSSES: Breland Powe, Jalen Maxwell, Demarius Holliday, Marcus Hamilton
KEY RETURNEES: Marquise Riley, Tashawn Brockington, Timothy Cheeseboro, James Fuller-Davis
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Alex Caldwell
6. Hammond
COACH: Mark McClam (5th year, 82-27)
LAST YEAR: 26-4
KEY LOSSES: Xavier McDaniel, Tommy Bruner
KEY RETURNEES: Seventh Woods, Chevez Goodwin, Lucas Prickett and Michael Turner
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Jack Theodore, George Folline
7 (tie). Spring Valley
COACH: Perry Dozier
LAST YEAR: 19-8
KEY LOSSES: P.J. Dozier, Malik Dunbar, Jaylon Robertson, Marcus Holloway, Israel Wall, Jalon Williams, K.J. Legette
KEY RETURNEES: Jordan Bruner, Javondii Myers, Noah Harper
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Tommy Bruner
Gray Collegiate
COACH: Dion Bethea (Second year)
LAST YEAR: 17-6
KEY LOSSES: Ravon Thompson, Malik Timmons, Darrell Goodwin and Jasun Williams
KEY RETURNEES: Ian Kinard, Tyler Brevard, Onteus Anderson and Xavier Miller, Justin Mack
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Khalil Robinson, Kendrick George and Juwan Gary
9. Dutch Fork
COACH: Matt Brown (5th year, 41-52)
LAST YEAR: 10-14
KEY LOSSES: Nick Raymond and Jason Maxwell
KEY RETURNEES: Jordan Davis, Bryson Cannon, Jordan Warlick, Joseph Vernau, Bobby Irby
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Willie Dunbar, Deuce Dean, Christian Felder
10. Lower Richland
COACH: Mark Burnitz (21 years, second year at LR)
LAST YEAR: 16-11
KEY LOSSES: Jared Richardson
KEY RETURNEES: Clyde Trapp, Ja’Cor Nelson, Carlos Nuttry, Kelvin Washington
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH: Daniel Tisdale, Jordan Brown, TeVaughn Higgins
Lou Bezjak