MaxPreps 2012 Preseason Xcellent 25 Basketball preview: No. 5 Chester

With nearly 1,800 all-time wins, 17 state championship game appearances and eight state titles, Chester (Pa.) is without question Pennsylvania's most storied high school basketball program.

Even with all that history and hardware, the Clippers may be in the midst of a golden era. Chester enters the 2012-13 campaign riding a 58-game win streak that includes back-to-back state titles.

"The kids are excited," Chester head coach Larry Yarbray Jr. said. "Honestly, the focus is always to win a state championship at Chester. We aren't worried about the streak, just trying to stay focused game-to-game, day-to-day on our next opponent."

The focal point for the Clippers will be versatile senior Rondae Jefferson, a 6-foot-6 senior regarded as one the top 50 prospects in the country by MaxPreps and already committed to Arizona. Jefferson averaged 12.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game a year ago in a point-forward role, earning Junior All-American honors.



"Rondae is one of the most unselfish players I've ever seen in the program," Yarbray said. "He makes sacrifices that some of the better players wouldn't. His mindset is to win. He could be a 20-10-5 (points-rebounds-assists) guy easily, but it's not just about him."

Fellow seniors Darius Robinson (6-1, G) and Richard Granberry (6-5, F) are also back after playing key roles for the 2012 Clipper state championship team.

Transfer guard Conrad Chambers, a 6-foot senior who played alongside Duke signee Amile Jefferson at Friends' Central last season, is a major addition to the roster.

Chester opens the season Dec. 11 at home against J.P. McCaskey (Lancaster).

Chester's last five years:
2011-12 – 32-0 (Larry Yarbray Jr.), Class AAAA state champions
2010-11 – 31-1 (Larry Yarbray Jr.), Class AAAA state champions
2009-10 – 16-11 (Larry Yarbray Jr.)
2008-09 – 24-5 (Larry Yarbray Jr.)
2007-08 – 33-1 (Fred Pickett), Class AAAA state champions

{PAGEBREAK}

Classification/Division:
PIAA Class AAAA



Enrollment:
1,148

Head coach:
Larry Yarbray Jr. (fifth year as head coach)

Career record:
103-17, Class AAAA state titles in 2011, 2012

Former Clippers playing college/pro basketball:
Jameer Nelson (Orlando Magic)
Nasir Robinson (Pittsburgh senior forward)
Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (Temple senior forward)
Darrin Govens (Ironi K-A, Israel)

Other notable alumni:
Bo Ryan (Wisconsin head basketball coach)
Will Hunter (former NFL defensive back)

{PAGEBREAK}

Key returners:



Rondae Jefferson (6-6, Sr., G/F), Arizona verbal commit, No. 49 prospect in MaxPreps Class of 2013 Top 100

Darius Robinson (6-1, Sr., G)

Richard Granberry (6-5, Sr., F)

Diamonte Reason (6-3, Sr., G)

James Kirksey (6-4, Sr., F)

Rashan DeJarnette (5-9, Sr., G)



Newcomers:

Conrad Chambers (6-0, Sr., G), transfer from Friends' Central

Isaiah Warren (5-7, Sr., G), transfer from Archbishop Carroll

Marquis Collins (6-6, Fr., F)

Circle the date:
High school basketball fans in the Philadelphia area are already eagerly anticipating the Feb. 10 showdown with defending Class AAA state champion Neumann-Goretti. The Clippers and Saints have been the dominant programs in the area in recent years and the grudge match will be televised nationally by ESPN. Other big games for Chester include a date with Whitney Young (Chicago) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic and an opponent to be named later in early January at the Brandon Jennings Invitational in Milwaukee.

Tournament time:
Chester is yet another nationally ranked powerhouse headed to the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The field for the December event features a dozen teams featured in the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 or Academy Top 10. There's a very good chance that the Clippers will head to the tournament with their win streak intact. Star junior guard Joel Berry and Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.) will be the opening-round opponent.



{PAGEBREAK}