A couple years ago, Lawrence Academy (Mass.) was on the map for their California duo of Richard Roby and Sylvester Seay.
This year, Kevin Wiercinski’s team may is more balanced – and arguably more talented.
It starts with versatile 6-foot-8, 200-pound junior DeJuan Pursley, a Cleveland, Ohio, native who can score from the perimeter and in the post.
``He’s got a lot of tools, but he’s got to show it every game,” Wiercinski said. “Last year, he showed it in spurts. He needs to be consistent and if he does, he’s a force.”
Edward Davis, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound junior who is better known as the younger brother of Boston Celtics wing Ricky Davis, should return in mid-December from a stress fracture in his right foot.
Lawrence also boasts two of the top freshman from the state: Jamal Coombs and Darryl Bishop.
Bishop is a strong, 6-foot-3, 190-pound freshman shooting guard who is also a standout football player while Coombs is a 6-foot-6 forward who played at Charlestown High (Mass.) and is repeating his freshman campaign.
``Jamal is smooth and has some similarities to Roby,” Wiercinski said. “He’s just got a sense about what it takes to do on every possession. He knows what the team needs.”
Wiercinski will also have 6-foot-6, 195-pound athletic sophomore forward Ashley Hamilton, who hails from London, in the fold. Hamilton plays hard – and has only played the game for a couple of years.
Jon Wilkie is a 6-foot, 165-pound sophomore shooting guard from nearby Groton, Mass. Sophomore point guard Rob Taylor (5-7), 6-foot-4, 265-pound senior Calvin Moses, 6-3 junior shooting guard Rudy Taylor and 5-9 senior Andrew Hanson will also see playing time as well.
``We’re young and talented,” Wiercinski said. “If we come together, we’ll be really good. There’s something of everything, but it’s not like we’re loaded at any one spot. We have to play together and have to want it. For us, it’s going to be all the intangibles.”