Gazette file photo Largo's Derrick Colter drives through the lane as he's trailed by Rashaun Rasheed (left) and Eric Greer (right) of Baltimore's City College High during a 72-69 victory by the Lions last January at Largo High.

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During a water break at a Largo High boys basketball practice, senior Damante McNiell was the first player back in the gym.

He stepped toward the baseline, ready to run suicide sprints — even though 25 seconds of freedom remained on the clock.

“Hey, y'all hurry up. Ten seconds. Ten seconds,” McNiell yelled to those who were still outside getting a drink. “C'mon we gotta go.”

It was pre-Thanksgiving preseason workout, but the intensity at Largo is such that every second of the practice must be used to the fullest. It better be if Largo hopes to back up its claim as the team to beat in Prince George's County's 3A/2A/1A League and win the state 2A championship.

“I believe we are [the team to beat]. We are,” senior forward Michael Graham said.

The senior-laden Lions will be led by Graham, as well as dynamic point guard Derrick Colter, who averaged 17.6 points per game last season and was a Gazette-Star All-County first team selection. McNiell rounds out a formidable senior trio of imposing players for the up-tempo Lions.

“We're not holding anything back,” Colter said. “If [other teams] come at us, they're going to get it. I'm more hungry. I want to get that championship.”

The Lions went 14-10 last year, losing to eventual region champion Friendly in the 3A South Region semifinals. Largo was reclassified to the 2A division this school year. Coach Lewis Howard, in his 12th season at Largo, said this season could be a special one.

“It's their time,” he said. “Our program is set up so the seniors can have an opportunity to succeed and do really well. So here we are.”

Long regarded as one of the quicker teams in the county, Largo will again attempt to wear teams down with an unrelenting fastbreak offense and trapping defense. The Lions lost eight games by 10 points or less last season, something that experience and discipline should help reconcile.

“We're going to probably stick with what we've been doing,” Howard said. “That's been my staple here at Largo. We try to play to our players' strengths and cover up their weaknesses.”

The Lions, who won a state title in 2008 when the current seniors were in eighth grade, are confident their conditioning and athleticism will propel them to the top.

But right now there are a few kinks to work out.

“We've got five of the starters back from last year's team,” Graham said. “We've got to talk to the young people and get them in the right spots. Our communication is what we need to work on. Off the court, we're OK. But on the court, we're not as vocal as we're supposed to be.”

At the forefront of the team's communication is Colter, who has consistently been one of the County 3A/2A/1A League's top players. The 6-foot, 165-pound senior, who scored 38 points in a breakout performance against Frederick Douglass last season, doesn't shy away from the big-play capability he and his team possess. Largo can run. Largo can dunk. Largo can knock down the 3.

“We want to play the last game on the last day that there's basketball in the state of Maryland,” Howard said.

One highlight on the non-conference schedule includes a game Jan. 27 against last year's Class 4A state runner-up, Patterson (Baltimore) at Coppin State University.

When asked what people should expect from Largo this season, a smiling Colter responded:

“Get your popcorn and drink ready, because it's going to be a show.”

ncammarota@gazette.net

2. Gwynn Park Yellow Jackets

COACH: Michael Glick

LAST YEAR: 17-9

OUTLOOK: After reaching the 2A state semifinals last season, Gwynn Park heads into 2011-12 needing to replace all five of its starters. Six-foot-9 Howard University recruit Marcel Boyd (3.8 points per game) and 6-4 senior Jarvis Hawkins (4.4 ppg) are the only two returning players who logged significant minutes last season, and both must make up for the loss of leading scorer Brandon Ford (17.3 ppg), a Gazette-Star All-County first team selection who is now a freshman at Howard. Junior shooting guard Jalen Harris averaged 21 points per game at the junior varsity level, and coach Michael Glick said he expects Harris to emerge as a go-to player. With so much inexperience, the Yellow Jackets will be tested with a difficult out-of-conference schedule. Glick called this year's squad his “closest-knit” team since 2008. “We'll have a great deal of size, but no superstars,” Glick said. “We're very strong on offensive and defensive rebounding and we'll be a balanced team.”

— Nick Cammarota

3. Friendly Patriots

Coach: Mark Edwards

Last year: 24-4

Outlook: The defending 3A South Region champions will look very different from last season's squad, beginning with a new coach. Mark Edwards replaced Rob Garner, who left after four seasons and is now at Henry A. Wise. The Patriots lost seven seniors to graduation, including key players Sherrod Baltimore, Davon Morton and Mike Johnson. While their absences are palpable, Edwards is encouraged by four seniors — point guard Victor Blakey, forward Kim Collins, wingman Jordan Gaither and guard Georell Stephens. Edwards said he isn't concerned about who will emerge as the top scorer, but is waiting to see who will step in as a leader. “I think we'll have some guys who may lead vocally, and some who lead by example,” Edwards said. “That's a process that remains to be seen. Those individuals have not stepped up yet because they're all learning as well.” Edwards said the toughest part of the coaching transition has been getting the team to understand new terminology. “It's tough to tell at this point,” he said. “I hope we're going to be competitive.”

— Nick Cammarota

4. Frederick Douglass Eagles

COACH: Tyrone Massenburg

LAST YEAR: 16-9

OUTLOOK: The Eagles lost star guard Timmone Whatley to graduation, but with nine players returning, the majority of practices can be spent fine-tuning plays. Senior Jasahn Johnson, a two-year starter, will be counted on to lead, and coach Tyrone Massenburg said he expects Johnson to develop into one of the county's top players. Junior point guard Jeffrey Calhoun, senior wing Michael Cunningham, senior guard Marvis Davies and junior transfer Saquan Epps-Walker will add to a deep bench. “We're not going to be one of the most physical teams and we're not going to have the height that some of the better teams will have,” Massenburg said. “[We'll] play as many guys as possible and try to wear teams down.” This season, Douglass will play host to the first Nick Lynch Christmas Tournament on Dec. 28-29, which will include Bowie and Calvert Hall. “We'll need to keep our mistakes down. That should be our strength,” Massenburg said. “We have so many experienced players. We're trying to be poised and experienced.”

— Nick Cammarota

5. Crossland Cavaliers

COACH: Michael Grant

LAST YEAR: 6-16

OUTLOOK: The 2010-11 season was frustrating on a number of levels for Crossland, not the least of which was a lack of rebounding in close games. The Cavaliers lost nine games by less than 10 points and were out-rebounded in 17 of their 22 contests. Coach Michael Grant said an influx of height, four experienced returnees and a defense-first mentality will help Crossland transform those close losses into victories. “Not being able to finish at the end got frustrating,” Grant said. Returning starters include guards Malik Morgan and Michael Morgan and Kharan Wallace. Among the new faces are football players Rob Moore and Antonio Thomas, as well as 6-foot-5, 260-pound center Keith Williams. “Once they see that [defense first] works, I think that's when they'll be able to take it to another level,” Grant said. “As far as being able to stop a team with a strong defensive stand, they really get fired up.”

— Nick Cammarota

6. Forestville Knights

Coach: Irvin Hay

Last year: 4-19

outlook: It's no secret Forestville has a weapon in Juwan Cole. The senior has been starting for the Knights since he was a sophomore, and teams haven't found an answer for the versatile point guard, who averaged 21 points per game last season. Cole is being recruited by DePaul University, Knights' coach Irvin Hay said. “He can go inside he can go outside he can play D, he can do it all,” Hay said. “He's Division-I caliber.” Cole had more than 20 points in seven games last year, highlighted by a 37-point outburst against Crossland. But Hay doesn't want to put the whole load on his point guard's back. “We are going to have 10 to 11 seniors and we're much bigger than we were last year,” he said. “We had a pretty decent weightlifting program over the summer, so we're going to be very balanced on offense.”

— Travis Mewhirter

7. Central Falcons

Coach: Lawrence Pugh

Last year: 9-12

outlook: Hustle is an intangible that, in a sport as fast-paced as basketball, can be the difference between winning and losing. Central coach Lawrence Pugh is looking to depend on that intangible to carry the Falcons this year. “We're smaller than we were last year but we're fast,” he said. “We're going to be much faster, much quicker and much deeper.” Pugh said his bench goes as far as nine or 10 players deep; with last year's team, he could barely afford to go past his sixth man. He is looking for leadership from seniors Phillip Poteat and Sequan Barnes to help develop a young squad that features three sophomores who all played for the varsity team as freshmen last year. “We're going to be a scrappy team,” Pugh said. “We're going to hustle and run and hopefully the ball bounces our way a few times.”

— Travis Mewhirter

8. Surrattsville Hornets

Coach: Roderick Moore

Last year: 20-5

Outlook: Last year's season-ending loss to Dunbar (Baltimore) in the 1A South Region final represented much more than the loss of a basketball game. The Hornets graduated 10 seniors, including the entire starting lineup, from a team that went 20-5 last season. Surrattsville will no doubt need to find a way to make up for the absence of leading scorers Raymond Baldwin (12.5 points per game), Chaz White (11.6 ppg) and Alexander Noble (11.1 ppg). Senior Xavier Price is the only returning player with varsity experience, as he averaged 6.6 points per game last season. With all five starters lost, the Hornets will rely on sophomore swing man Evonte Hill to make it through the difficult Prince George's County 3A/2A/1A League schedule. “We're redefining the skills and the skill level,” said Surrattsville assistant coach Pedro Crump. “Defense is going to be our No. 1 key. The offense will come, we're focusing on our defense.”

— Nick Cammarota

9. Fairmont Heights Hornets

Coach: George Wake

Last year: 10-15

Outlook: Hornets coach George Wake has seen some of his players lost to academic ineligibility in recent years, but enters the 2011-12 season optimistic that key players will be eligible for the entire season. After having just two players on the school's honor roll last year, Wake said the Hornets have more than doubled that number this school year. Senior forward Julian Livingston (11 points per game last year) will be one of the Hornets leaders this season. Senior guard Jamar Cuthbertson (5 ppg, 3 assists per game) also returns. Junior point guard Reggie Nelson, who missed all of last season because of academic ineligibility, will provide a badly needed boost to a team that Wake said has been without a consistent ball-handler the past two seasons. Junior guard Javon Nance returns after leaving the team last season because of disciplinary reasons. “I think we will be better because we have better players,” Wake said. “We have more kids here and not having issues off the court as much.”

— Terron Hampton

10. Potomac Wolverines

Coach: Renard Johnson

Last year: 4-16

Outlook: With a new coach, Raynard Johnson, replacing Brian Brooks, the Wolverines will attempt to rebound from a subpar season last year. Johnson, who was an assistant at Friendly last season, said he expects this to be more than a “throw-away” year as the squad boasts seven seniors, including 6-foot-5, 220-pound forward Davon Williams. Williams will be joined by Mark Givens, who didn't play last season, and sophomore small forward Dion Wiley. “He has long arms and he makes the game easy,” Johnson said of Wiley. “He floats around, is real smooth and can score inside and out. A matchup nightmare.” Kwame Jones and Anthony Ridley will be Johnson's leaders off the floor. The Wolverines will run an up-tempo offense and a pressure defense, something Johnson said should be possible because of the team's depth. “Expectations are high at Potomac,” Johnson said. “I'm preparing my kids that every game is a dogfight. We can't let up.”

— Nick Cammarota