Chester Clippers 2016-2017 Boys Basketball Season Preview

Report by Terry Thomas

The 2016-17 Boys Basketball season has finally arrived and the Chester Clippers are looking forward to another successful season. Returning just four players from last season Del Val League Championship team; the Clippers will replenish their roster with members from their very successful JV team. Senior leadership will come from 6'6", 2nd Team All-Delco Forward - Jamar Sudan, 6'0" Guard - Ahrod Carter, 5'10 Guard - Larry Yarbray Jr and 6'8" Forward - Jordan Camper. Carter and Camper were both awarded Honorable Mention All-Delco selections last season. Coach Yarbray will put the ball in the hands of 5'11" sophomore Michael "Man-Man" Smith to serve as the point guard for the group of Clippers. Smith will not be the lone sophomore on this year's team. He will be joined by 5'11" Guard - Jaimhy Evans, 6'2" Guard - Rahmaah DeJarnette and 6'3" Forward - Rahnel Sparks. Juniors 6'2" Forward - Brian Randolph III and 6'3" Forward - Timothy Johnston will add a little more maturity to the team along with seniors 5'8" Guards - Tyrel Lennon and Jah'meir Springfield.

Even with the introduction of eight new members, the Clippers goals remain the same: Del Val, District and State Championships. These goals will be attained by playing aggressive defense, up tempo offense and the use of multi-player rotations. It's going to be a fun season watching this young team develop and carry the banner of C-Pride throughout the county.

Chester opens the season at home on Saturday, December 10th when they take on Philadelphia's Simon Gratz Bulldogs in the night cap of the 4th Annual Fred Pickett Classic. They will then travel to take on Delaware power Newark before returning home to host Lancaster's J.P. McCaskey with former Clipper Steve 'Bird' Powell at the helm and the Reading Red Knights who ended the Clippers State Championship run last season.  On Friday, December 23rd, the Clippers will host the inaugural Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Classic and face-off against another Philadelphia power in Math-Civics-Science Charter in finale before closing out the year against District 1 foes Abington and Pennsbury in the 12th Annual Pete Nelson Classic on the campus of Widener University.

Coach Yarbray's team will be well tested before the start of League play in January 2017 where they hope to repeat as Del Val Champions and keep the crown as the best in Delaware County at 9th and Barclay.

Head Coach:  Larry Yarbray Sr.

Assistant to the Head Coach:  Derick Spence

Assistant Coaches:     Jimai Springfield (JV), Jimmy Dennis (Freshman),

                                  John Carter, Keddy Harris, Terry Thomas

Team Manager:         _______________________

Athletic Director:       Andre Moore

Trainer:                      Ken Santello

Principal:                   Dr. Tanya Glenn-Butler, Jonas Crenshaw (STEM)

Superintendent:         Gregory G. Shannon

                                                                                                    BLK/WHT

PLAYER                        POS       GRADE     UNIFORM #     HGT         WGT

Michael SMITH                 G              SOPH            1                5’ 11”           160

Larry YARBRAY Jr.           G              SR                 2                5’ 10”          160

Ahrod CARTER                 G              SR                 4                6’ 0”           180

Jah’meir SPRINGFIELD     F              SR                 5               5’ 8”            140

Tyrel LENNON                   G             SR                 10                5’ 8”          145

Jaimhy EVANS                    G             SOPH            11                5’ 11”        170

Brian RANDOLPH III          G              JR                 15               6’ 2”          160

Rahmaad DEJARNETTE     G              SOPH            21              6’ 2”          140

Jamar SUDAN                     F              SR                 22               6’ 6”          205

Timothy JOHNSTON           F              JR                 30               6’ 3”          180

Rahnel SPARKS                  F              SOPH            32               6’ 3”          240

Jordan CAMPER                 F              SR                 35               6’ 8”          200