After Fairmont Heights loss the Maryland 1A state title last season, junior guard Anthony Craven was devastated, but he felt like his team deserved it.
“I feel like I let my team down because I didn’t produce all week as I did all season,” Craven said.
Despite the state title loss and the departure of Fairmont’s top two scorers, Kimani Benjamin and Darren Lucas-White, Head Coach Chuck Henry wants everybody to know that Fairmont is still a team to beat.
Henry thinks losing Benjamin, and White just shows what the coaching staff at Fairmont is capable of, as both players are currently playing in the collegiate level.
Henry is focused on getting his team better each year. Craven is one player that has gotten better each year under Henry. Craven is a very unselfish player and a big-time scorer.
Craven said his role is to be a leader on and off the court this season. It’s obvious he wants to put his team in the best position to win at the end of the day. Craven is not too far from 1,000 points and 500 rebounds milestone.
Tywon Montgomery is another talented player in the backcourt with Craven. Montgomery had an impressive of summer on the AAU circuit with Team Nationals and he even gained 20 pounds.
Montgomery has improved his game in every aspect this summer, but he feels his confidence is through the roof this year.
“I didn’t play a lot last, but my jump shot has gotten a lot better,” Montgomery said. “With my confidence being so high this year, it impacts my leadership role for this season.”
Craven and Montgomery are looked to be one of the top duos in their Prince Georges County division this season.
The Hornets also bring in a 6-foot-4 freshman guard Derrick Key, who was a standout player for Team Takeover over the summer. Key is a solid defender and his upside is through the ceilings.
Henry feels Fairmont can be one of the top teams in the area if his guys play consistent defense.
The Hornets schedule opens up with a non-conference matchup against the Laurel Spartans, who were a surprise in the Maryland 4A last season with a 8-10 record and came up short against Bladensburg in the playoffs.
Fairmont will host its annual Christmas tournament, which will feature Chapelgate, Eastern, CMIT South and Thurgood Marshall.
Inside The Locker Room 