Chamberlain boys basketball has to prove itself, again

Posted Nov 4, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Nov 4, 2011 at 03:52 PM

Raise your hand if you thought the Chamberlain boys basketball team would reach the Class 5A state region finals last season. Anyone?

The Chiefs certainly turned heads last season after beating Wharton and Sickles early in the year and winning the district title over Sickles, the five-time district champion and 2010 state runner-up. During all of that, Eric Storts proved to be one of the best all-around players in Hillsborough County while as a sophomore, Reggie Hart showed teams they needed pay attention to him.

But this year, Storts is gone, having earned a walk-on spot at the University of Florida, and Hart, who averaged 16.2 points per game, is expected to carry an unknown Chiefs squad by himself. But that’s what Chamberlain wants us to believe.

“We’ll be better this year,” third-year Chamberlain coach Christopher Snyder said. “One guy did everything last year and this year, three guys are doing everything.”

Snyder is referring to Hart, senior point guard David Cook and junior forward Ariel Martinez. In addition, Snyder is expecting 6-foot-7 sophomore Fitzroy Hector to produce in the post.

“We’re going to be deep and that will surprise people,” Snyder said.

“I feel lke we’re going to have to prove ourselves,” said Hart, who has interest from Miami, UCF, USF and Elon. “We like it when people doubt us. It’s not about rankings.”