The Tru Hope Trailblazers have concluded their exhibition season and are preparing to defend their 2010-11 Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League (ACPBL) title. The roster has been finalized and their season opens on December 4th against the Beltsway Bombers. ACPBL commissioner, James Schultz will be on hand to present the Trailblazers with rings to commemorate their championship season.
This year’s edition of the Trailblazers will consist of some returning players and some key new additions as well. The team will be led by team captain and University of Virginia product, Jason Clark. Clark led last year’s team in rebounding (8.2 per game) and blocked shots (2.8 per game), while also averaging 10.9 points per game.
The team will also feature three co-captains – Jamal Robinson, Maurice Latham, and Brian Graves. Robinson had a solid year last season averaging 13.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He will be depended on to continue to provide steady production at the forward position for the Trailblazers. While only playing in two games last year, Latham average 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. The team will look to the 6’6” guard to increase his scoring and help to carry the load on the offensive end. Graves will be the floor general for this year’s team. The 6’2” guard averaged 24.5 points and 8.4 assists per game in route to earning Second Team All-ACPBL honors last year. The Trailblazers will depend on his steady leadership again this year. In the ten games that Graves played in last year, he posted a tremendous 5.25-to-1 assist to turnover ratio (84 assists, 16 turnovers).
In the backcourt, Brandon Plummer, Shay Lewis, and training camp additions Brian Faulcon and Branden Smith will be depended on to add depth. The team’s most recent addition and University of Maryland product, John Gilchrist will also add additional veteran leadership and will help give the Trailblazers a solid group of players at the guard position.
In the frontcourt, forward Paul Johnson will be returning this year after averaging 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Also, depended on this year for depth will be Travis Klink, Oludele Doherty, and Robert Strickland. Also, training camp additions Laquann Bogues and Samonn Frazier were added to the final regular season roster and will depended on to add further depth in the frontcourt, as well.
The Trailblazers will be led again this year by last year’s ACPBL Coach of the Year, Emory Addison and new addition to the coaching staff, Fred Kettrell. The coaching staff is confident that with the right mentality and work ethic, this year’s team has a chance to contend and repeat as ACPBL champions. Their first task will be to slow down last year’s ACPBL MVP, Hugh Jones (24.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last year) and the Beltsway Bombers.
Also of note, the Trailblazers team showcases a tremendous amount of local flavor on this year's roster. Twelve of the team's 15 players hail from the local area.
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