Albany Herald

Photo by Danny Aller

ALBANY -- Doughertry boys basketball coach Donald Poole knows he has the players, but he's not quite sure if he has the team.

Yet, anyway.

The Trojans return four starters from last year's 4-18 squad. The key returner is Super Six senior point guard Arabian Williams, who averaged 18 points per game last year in addition to chipping in four rebounds and three steals per outing.

Joining Williams as returning starters are 5-foot-11 senior guard Semori Allen, 6'0 junior forward Marcus Brunson and 6'4 junior center Timothy Washington.

Poole's task is to shape those returning players and their teammates into a cohesive team.

"Oh yeah, we have some people who played last year coming back," Poole, who is beginning his 8th season as Dougherty's coach, said. "We've just gotta get them to play together as a team. We've got to get more consistent play and play fundamentally as a team."

Much of that responsibility will fall to his senior point guard.

"We really need for Arabian to be a leader on this team and promote the team concept instead of having five individuals on the floor," Poole began, "and we need for some other guys to play like he does."

So, what will it take for the Trojans to rebound in rugged Region 1-AAA?

"We need for everybody on the team to find their roles," Poole Said. "We want all of them to step up and get better with their games and become a team."

Joining the returning starters this year are Zapatas Pickett (5-7, Jr., Forward), Joshua Christian (5-8, Jr. Guard), Marcus Williams (5-8, Jr., Guard), Darrell Anthony (6-2, Jr. Guard), Marcus Brunson (6-0, Jr., Center), Marcus Gaines (5-9, Jr. Guard), Jamoski Shealy (5-9, Jr., Forward), C. Pickett (5-9, Fr., Guard), Joshua Lewis (5-9, Fr., Guard) and Thalandis Chester (5-9, Jr., Guard).

The Trojans next game will be Dec. 1 at Americus-Sumter.