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Men's Basketball Season Preview 2007-08
The Firebirds, a NCAA Division II, Independent, went 20-9 during the 2006-07 season, and returns 10 letterwinners and all 5 starters from last year’s team, including standouts Willie Shaw (Alexandria, VA- T. C. Williams H.S.) and Charlie Smallwood (Palmer Park, MD-Riverdale H.S.), both of whom were ranked high among NCAA Division II basketball players during the season. Shaw returned this year in the best shape of his career, after losing 6o pounds. He averaged 14.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1 block per game last season.
Smallwood averaged 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.6 assists per game last season. Frank Petersen (Silver Spring, MD-St. John’s H.S.), the Firebird’s returning point guard is expected to provide exciting floor leadership for the team. Last year he averaged 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.60 steals per game.
Firebird newcomers include Edison High School (Springfield, VA) standout Timothy W. Ellison. Ellison is a 6’5" swing man who can play several positions, including shooting guard, point guard and small forward. He received Edison’s Most Valuable Player Award following the 2006-07 season during which they compiled a record of 18-3, to win their first regular season district championship since 1970. Ellison scored 20 points in Edison’s win over Wakefield High to give them the 2007 National District Championship.
Another newcomer is seven foot Ryan Wood, from Windsor Ontario, Canada(Sandwich Secondary School). Wood played on the Junior Canadian National Team, was named a League All Star for four years and the Team MVP. He averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks per game during his senior year. Woods and Ellison are in contention for starting roles on the team. Samer Shehadeh also joins the team this year as a walk on. He played locally at Jeb Stuart High School in Falls Church, Virginia, and is a two sport athlete, being a starting member of the men’s soccer team.
Head Coach Julius L. Smith, Jr. (21-31), enters his third year at the helm of the Firebirds. After going 1-22 his first year (2005), he turned the team around in the 2006 season to achieve a 20-9 record. Smith said of the 2007 season that, "this season’s schedule is tougher than last year’s. The schedule, again, includes the perennial power house Virginia Union University Panthers, who are ranked 2nd in the South Atlantic Region and 11th in the nation, the Alderson-Broaddus Battlers, who are ranked 3rd in the East Region and 14th in the country, and the Millersville University Marauders, who are ranked 4th in the East Region."
Coach Smith also said, "I expect the kids to pickup where they left off last year. If they don’t get 20 wins again, they should be disappointed. I have seven seniors who played some quality minutes. Their expectations are to get into the Tournament and play for the National Championship. One of the things we are particularly excited about is that we are hosting the Independent Schools Tournament this year. In addition to giving the University positive exposure, it also gives us the opportunity to play more home games in our own building".
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