MaxPreps 2013-14 Preseason Xcellent 25 Basketball preview: No. 4 Oak Hill Academy

Shortly before MaxPreps released its preseason rankings Nov. 6, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) threw a wrench into things with a shocking early-season loss.

Quality Education Academy of Winston-Salem, N.C., broke in a new gym with a 20-point thrashing of the Warriors. But the team's response in recent weeks could suggest that this year's Warriors may still be capable of living up to a lofty preseason ranking.

Since the loss to Quality Education on Nov. 1, Oak Hill Academy is 5-0 and has won four of those games by 28 points or more. The Warriors knocked off national No. 25 Carlisle (Martinsville, Va.) on Friday night to improve to 7-1 overall and gave legendary head coach Steve Smith his 900th career victory.



"We should be much improved over last year," Smith told MaxPreps last month. "Not sure we will be where we were two years ago (when the Warriors went 44-0 and won a national title), but we'll have a chance every night out."

The point guard position is in good hands with Shelton Mitchell and returner Terrence Phillips, the brother of Pistons floor general Brandon Jennings.

"They go after each other," Smith said. "It's good for each of them. We could start either one of them, probably go with Shelton as a senior but Terrence will play a lot."

B.J. Stith and the Martin twins Caleb and Cody – all headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference – give Oak Hill an embarrassment of riches on the wings. They have experience playing with each other on the club circuit and will be a major matchup problem on most nights.

Rokas Gustys, a native of Lithuania, joins touted newcomers Rodney Miller, Tony Anderson and Trevor Manual as options in the post.

Smith clearly likes what he sees in Miller, a St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) transfer who is every inch of 6-foot-11, according to the legendary coach.



"When we first saw him he was out of shape and had never lifted weights. I couldn't tell, thought maybe he was a year away," Smith said. "But he is out here working hard and we are excited about him. He's going to be a pro one day."

View gallery of Oak Hill Academy preseason photo shoot

Oak Hill Academy last five years:
2012-13 (Steve Smith) – 33-6, No. 8 final Academy Top 10 national ranking
2011-12 (Steve Smith) – 44-0, Academy Top 10 National Champions
2010-11 (Steve Smith) – 29-4, No. 7 final Xcellent 25 national ranking
2009-10 (Steve Smith) – 29-4
2008-09 (Steve Smith) – 40-1, No. 2 final Xcellent 25 national ranking

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Classification/Division:
Independent, Baptist-affiliated boarding school

Enrollment:
150

Head coach:
Steve Smith

Career record:
900-60, recognized as national champion by at least one media outlet in 1993, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012



Former Warriors in college/pro basketball:

Jordan Adams (UCLA sophomore guard)

Carmelo Anthony (current New York Knicks forward)

Steve Blake (current Los Angeles Lakers guard)

Nate Britt (North Carolina freshman guard)

Quinn Cook (Duke junior guard)



DeSagana Diop (former NBA center)

A.J. Hammons (Purdue sophomore center)

Ike Iroegbu (Washington State freshman guard)

Stephen Jackson (current San Antonio Spurs wing)

Brandon Jennings (current Detroit Pistons guard)

Doron Lamb (current Orlando Magic guard)



Tywon Lawson (current Denver Nuggets guard)

Tyler Lewis (North Carolina State sophomore guard)

Rajon Rondo (current Boston Celtics guard)

Josh Smith (current Detroit Pistons forward)

Nolan Smith (current guard for Croatian team KK Cedevita)

D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (Georgetown sophomore guard)



Sindarius Thornwell (South Carolina freshman guard)

Jeff McInnis (former NBA guard)

Ron Mercer (former NBA guard)

Jerry Stackhouse (former NBA forward)

Troy Williams (Indiana freshman guard)
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Key returners:

Rokas Gustys (6-9, Sr., F/C)



Terrence Phillips (5-11, Jr., G)

Newcomers:

Tony Anderson (6-7, Jr., F)

Trevor Manual (6-9, Jr., F)

Caleb Martin (6-6, Sr., G/F), North Carolina State signee

Cody Martin (6-6, Sr., G/F), North Carolina State signee



Rodney Miller (6-11, So., C)

Shelton Mitchell (6-3, Sr., G), Wake Forest signee

B.J. Stith (6-5, Sr., G/F), Virginia signee

Khadim Sy (6-9, So., F/C)

Kem Ubaru (6-5, Sr., F)

Circle the date:



The Warriors will play games in nine states this season and as many as 10 against nationally ranked opponents. No. 6 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) will provide a big test at the Hoophall West event in Arizona next month and a meeting with No. 9 Whitney Young (Chicago) will be one of the most highly anticipated matchups at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts.

Oak Hill Academy no doubt has Feb. 22 circled on the calendar – that's when the Warriors will get another crack at Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.) after a 20-point loss earlier this month.

Tournament time:

OHA won the Chick-fil-A Classic in 2012 en route to a 44-0 record and national title. The Warriors will return to Columbia, S.C., for the event this December. Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) and Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) will be among the contenders there.