(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) SLASH AND BURN: Hun School boys’ basketball star Lance Goulbourne slashes to the basket in a game last season. The 6’7 senior forward figures to be Hun’s go-to guy inside as the Raiders look to defend their Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) and state Prep A crowns.

Hun Boys’ Hoops Working on Chemistry as It Aims to Defend MAPL, Prep A Titles

Bill Alden

Last winter, the Hun School boys’ basketball team produced one of the greatest stretch drives in program history.

Exorcising some demons from recent post-season losses, Hun edged visiting Blair 43-40 in the championship game of the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL), triggering a frenzied celebration with its student fans.

Days later, Hun travelled to Blair for the state Prep A title game and came through again, pulling off a 63-47 double overtime win.

While Hun head coach Jon Stone won’t soon forget the memories of his team’s championship double, he knows that success doesn’t guarantee anything as the Raiders look forward to the upcoming season.

“They all know they can do it but they recognize it’s a new season,” said Stone, whose team tips off its 2007-08 season by hosting Collegiate School on December 1.

“We have some returners but we also have a lot of new faces. We have a long way to go to put things together. We need to continue to build team chemistry. We have a lot of talent; it’s a question of putting it all together.”

Hun’s most talented player figures to be 6’7 senior star Lance Goulbourne, who has already committed to play college basketball at Vanderbilt.

“Lance had a tremendous summer,” said Stone, who guided the Raiders to a 21-8 mark last winter and is in his eighth at the helm of the program.

“He’s grown and matured since the day he got here; we expect a lot of him. He’s more consistent; he’s more active and he’s shooting the ball better. He’s posting up more and he’s tougher inside.”

Stone is also depending on post-graduate Sterling Melville and junior Anthony LaLota to help Goulboune inside

“Sterling Melville provides size, he’s 6’5, 220 pounds,” added Stone, who should get some rugged inside play from 6’8, 220 pound junior Egheosa Edomwonyi. “He’s very strong; he has a lot of talent. Anthony LaLota is a big, strong kid; he should help us.”

In the backcourt, Hun returns two talented, savvy performers in seniors Doug Davis and Matt Florio.

“Doug has continued to improve like Lance,” asserted Stone. “He has the ability to make plays and the confidence to make shots. Matt is so very consistent. He can handle the ball and he is probably our best defender.”

Hun features some good depth in post-grad Mike Auriemma, the son of Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, and sophomore DeOliver “Ollie” Davis, Doug’s younger brother.

“Mike has the ability to handle the ball and pass it,” said Stone. “He can shoot well and that should stretch defenses. DeOliver will play. He will help us; it is a question of how much and how fast. It’s tough for anybody to contribute a lot early in his first year with the program; you have to get used to the system and the level of competition.”

As usual, Hun’s high-powered schedule will give it plenty of chances to test its skills against high-level competition. The Raiders will be competing in the Peddie Invitation, the Jameer Nelson Classic and the Prime Time Shootout, and the Apple Classic. Along the way Hun will take on such formidable squads as St. Anthony’s, St. Benedict’s, Apex Academy, and St. Augustine’s.

“No one plays a tougher schedule than we do,” said Stone. “We play against some of the best competition in the country. The kids really enjoy it. It exposes your weaknesses and you learn what you need to improve on.”

And if Hun can make those improvements, it could once again produce a memorable stretch drive.

Return to Previous Sports Story | Return to Top | Go to Next Story