The varsity football season has caused Central High School’s varsity boys basketball team to get a late start to its preseason preparations for the 2017-18 campaign, but the Chargers are already set to feature some familiar faces on the hardwood.
Central Head Coach Mike McGrath said this season’s team features a strong starting group returning.
“We will have to play smart basketball to compete,” he said.
Because so many of McGrath’s prospective players were on the varsity football team, tryouts for the varsity boys basketball team did not begin until Monday.
“My roster is not set yet as we do not conclude tryouts until tomorrow,” McGrath said Tuesday.
He confirmed, however, that senior L.J. Watson will definitely be back. The point guard was a first-team all-conference honoree last season. Also returning is senior forward Darryl Jones, who was named to the 2016-17 all-conference second team.
“In the paint, we will have (6-foot-8-inch) Ethan Hoover and (6-foot-1-inch) power forward Ben Spencer,” McGrath said, referring to two more senior standouts.
The Chargers will have to press on without starting guard John McGrath; the senior tore his ACL during football season.
“While his recovery is going well and ahead of schedule, in all probability, he will miss the season,” Coach McGrath said.
Central, which went 6-17 last season, lost three players from that 2016-17 team due to graduation — all-conference center Raymond Alexander, forward Tylik Thomas and reserve Forward Daquan Cleaton.
The Chargers open the 2017-18 season Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Goochland High School, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.