Thrashing gives team a to-do list

Harlem's boys basketball team suffered a double-digit loss to Academy of Richmond County in a preseason scrimmage Tuesday, but coach Kim Chambers came away with exactly what he wanted.

"In a game like this you see things you need to work on," Chambers said. "I get to see how these guys do against this level of play."

The scrimmage, a 73-56 loss to Richmond Academy, saw 18 boys in a Harlem Bulldog uniform. Because Harlem's football season ended the weekend before, several of the potential Bulldog basketball players had been with the team for only two practices leading up to the scrimmage.

The lack of time didn't even allow for a full second round of tryouts.

"I haven't even made my final cut yet," Chambers said. "We had so many kids come out after football. They haven't been with us long enough to decide anything yet."

Even though Harlem's basketball season will begin Monday, Chambers held on to as many potential players as he could for good reason. Only one starter, DeMarcus Morris, returns to the team this season - leaving four starting spots wide open.

Last season's team finished with a record of 9-16. Two of the team's four starting seniors, Ajay Miller and Eric Beard, are now playing college basketball.

That leaves Morris, once again the starting point guard, as the only returning player with experience. He'll also assume the role of team leader.

"He's the one. Everybody's looking up to him - especially in practice," Chambers said.

For the soft-spoken guard, taking on a leadership position will require a bit of a personality shift.

"I've got to work on it," Morris said.