With the Miami Art District as the setting, Brooker T. Washington head coach Tim Harris Jr. is surrounded by a wealth of talent.
Photo by Stuart Browning
Anyone who doubts Booker T. Washington's ability to remain nationally relevant this year does so at their own risk of being proved wrong -- in a big way.
Like St. John Bosco, Booker T. Washington enjoyed a storybook season in 2013, capturing victories over Norcross, Miami Central and Bishop Gorman en route to state and national titles. Sure, the Tornadoes do graduate numerous key pieces from last year's title run, such as Treon Harris, Chad Thomas and Nigel Bethel. But this program has been as consistent as it gets, posting a 40-2 record since 2011.
The biggest shoes to replace are those that belonged to Harris.
Maurice Alexander, a transfer from Homestead, will attempt to seize the opportunity. His speed and athleticism make him a perfect fit for the Tornadoes' offense. He should fit in seamlessly.
Mark Walton will resume his role as a focal point of the offense. Only a junior, Walton seems like he's been on the varsity team forever. He tallied 871 yards and 14 scores as a sophomore. He is the nation's No. 4 running back in the Class of 2016,
according to 247Sports.
The receiving corps of
Darius Scott,
Vaquan Smalls and
Shaquille Green are all somewhat-seasoned and should be reliable targets for Alexander.
Antonio Calloway, who holds offers from Florida and Miami, already has good rapport with Alexander. He came over from Homestead with him.
Returning linemen
Deiontae Lynch,
Ceasar Jiminez and
Clayton Cobb anchor the offensive line.
Ben Tirolia (6-foot-4, 280 pounds), a transfer from Miami Jackson, should earn a starting spot. Several players who cracked the two-deep group last year return to provide added depth.
The defense has a few more question marks, at least right now.
Tyrone Robinson and
Andre Duncombe will assume bigger roles on the line, in light of the graduation of Chad Thomas et al.
Terry Jefferson,
James King and junior
Hosea McMullin are familiar names to Booker T. fans. Like most of the players on this team, they'll need to contribute at a much higher level in 2014 to even approach the success the team enjoyed in 2013.
In the secondary,
Davante Davis looks primed to step in as the team's next great corner. He's already been offered by South Carolina, Louisville and others.
Ocie Rose, another defensive back, has an Arkansas offer.
Head coach Tim Harris Jr., in his first year at the helm after taking over for his father, insists Booker T. Washington will be back in the thick of the national ranking discussion. For a program that has lost just twice in three seasons against some of the nation's stiffest competition, it's an entirely believable claim.
Local quote
"While Treon Harris is tough to replace, the Tornadoes more than stocked the shelves with four Homestead High transfers and a number of quality underclassmen who give this program a chance to be a national force once again. In addition, the defense returns eight starters who were among the best players on the team a year ago. BTW will be elite on both sides of the ball."
- Larry Blustein, Miami Herald, South Florida High School Sports (@larryblustein)
Mark Walton is back again, looking to be a destructive force.
Photo by Stuart Browning/IIIustration by Social Recluse Graphx
