Classification: VISAA Division1 Conference: Prep League Last Season: 20-10; Prep League Champions; Made it to the VISAA Final Four before losing to Paul VI Key Games: 12/11 – @ Benedictine 12/19 – Bishop Sullivan 12/21 – @ Atlantic Shores…
Classification: VISAA Division1
Conference: Prep League
Last Season: 20-10; Prep League Champions; Made it to the VISAA Final Four before losing to Paul VI
Key Games:
12/11 – @ Benedictine
12/19 – Bishop Sullivan
12/21 – @ Atlantic Shores
1/5 – St. Christopher’s
1/26 – @ St. Anne’s Belfield
2/5 – @ St. Christopher’s
Head Coach: Rick Hamlin
Key Losses: Josh Brown (18 ppg.), Eli Reese (7 ppg), Zach Pfaffenberger (6 ppg 5 rpg), Dimitri Georgiadis
Key Returners: Trevion Armstrong (14 ppg), Aaron Duhart, Zane Lewis, Matt Brassington
Key Newcomers: Zach Jacobs (Maggie Walker transfer), Armando Bacot (freshman)
Coming off one of their best seasons in program history after reaching the VISAA Final Four, the Trinity Episcopal roster looks completely different with the season around the corner. With only one starter returning in wing Trevion Armstrong, the Titans will have to gel quickly, but there’s no doubt they have the talent to have another special season.
“Our biggest challenge is going to be replacing Trinity’s all time leading scorer in Josh Brown,” Head Coach Rich Hamlin said. “This year's team should be more balance. We are very deep and experience, with ten players that could start and seven seniors on our roster.”
While they may have lost some key pieces from last season’s run, Trinity reloaded in a big way bringing in junior power forward Zach Jacobs from Maggie Walker, and they have one of the most promising freshmen in the state in 6’7 Armando Bacot. Jacobs, a 6’7 forward, is a hyper active post with good athleticism and skill set. He runs the floor well, attacks the offensive glass and creates mismatches with his ability to shoot it and attack from the perimeter. Paired with Bacot, a skilled post scorer who can run the offense from 15 feet and in, the Titans will be tough to match up with inside.
Trinity also welcomes back point guard Aaron Duhart, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. The junior lead guard is a blur in transition, and his tight handle and shiftiness allows him to make plays for both himself and teammates off the bounce. He’ll pair up with three year starter and senior Zane Lewis in the backcourt, who’s a Cornell football commit who brings toughness and three level scoring ability to the table.
Add in Armstrong, an athletic scorer and tough defender on the wing, along with solid role players in 6’6 shooter Matt Brassington and defensive specialists Blake Bowen and Jake Brown and you have a team that’s ready to compete.
It won’t be easy for the Titans who play a brutal schedule with games against Atlantic Shores, St. Christopher’s (twice), St. Anne’s Belfield, Benedictine, Bishop Sullivan and Williamsburg Christian. Not to mention, if they do make a run in the state tournament they will likely meet stacked teams in Bishop O’Connell, Paul VI and/or Cape Henry. That doesn’t change their mindset to be the best, however.
“Our goal is to win our fifth straight Prep League championship, and hopefully make it back to the state Final Four,” Hamlin said. “If we can have all the players buy into a team concept, then the sky is the limit for us.”
The Titans have the opportunity for another stellar season if they gel right, and should be an exciting team to watch this season. They open up on the road against Amelia County November 30, before a matchup with Hampton Roads Academy in the Travis Tournament on December 4.