Festival Preview: Complementing One Another, Laurel Expecting Continued Success

Ron Bailey, Publisher

November 26, 2007 – Going 16-7 last year and being one of the top four teams in the perennially tough Prince George’s County (MD) 4A league, many could logically assume Laurel High School’s Spartans would take a step back this season, given the departure of two student athletes to Hampton University, Chris Tolson and Milade Lola-Charles. Laurel’s coach, Keith Coutreyer is not one of those people.

“We should be just as competitive this year” noted the coach who has turned Laurel into a program of note in the DC area. “We won’t have as much depth, but our starting five is as good as anybody in the division…We have five different players with five different skill sets that play well with one another”.

Senior forward, 6’7” Will Alston, a transfer who Coutreyer said “is a good fit, exactly what the doctor ordered” will provide inside presence offensively and defensively, while fellow fourth year player, 6’1” high scoring combo guard Reggie Young pours in perimeter buckets.

Sharpshooter Reggie Young

That veteran duo is joined by a trio of juniors, including 5’8” guard Corey Wood, who his coach says “is a Jason Kidd type point guard” that also excels at defending the ball, 6’3” Killian Azah, a player Coutreyer described as “extremely athletic who really understands the game”, and 6’3” swingman Marcus Hebron, the coach’s “potpourri player” or “guy that gives you a little bit of everything, shooting, driving, defending, passing. He’s a good change of pace”.

The National High School Hoops Festival affords the Spartans an opportunity to do something limited by public school rules governing the school. “It kind of handcuffs us” said Coutreyer of his team’s mandated 18 league contests of a 22 game maximum schedule.

To that end, their Festival match up with Bishop McNamara, along with games versus Jericho Christian (MD) and North Point (MD), loom huge, as they not only provide a welcome respite from the 4A’s wars, but further prepare the team for the season’s goals.

“Hopefully, we will have a chance to build on last year, contend for a league title again” said Coutreyer of his team’s plans, while later noting “Losing our seniors created a vacuum, filled by five instead of two. Hopefully, we’ll be harder to deal with”.

Their Festival contest with McNamara provides a good, early season barometer.