Team Workout Series: McKinley Tech

Ron Bailey, Publisher

McKinley Tech is in "rebuilding" mode.

October 7, 2009 – Last season more or less re-introduced McKinley Tech (DC) to DC-Maryland-Virginia hoops circles, as the Trainers made the boys DC Interscholastic Athletic Association championships last year (finishing 17-5), and according to their coach Eric Brockenberry strung together “12 straight victories” after losing to eventual champion Ballou early in the season. Respect had returned to the Northeast, DC school, one with a long history of basketball success.

Though Brockenberry et al desire to repeat last year’s success, the coach, in his fourth year, readily admits to do so “I’m really going to have to do some coaching”, including the overall game and X’s and O’s.

Roderick Smith (black shorts) is a budding standout in football and hoops.

Why you ask? First, Tech lost six seniors to graduation, including guards Anthony Myers, now at Charis Prep and Niiormah Douglass, who won an academic scholarship to Temple and is attempting to walk on there. Standout forward Antonio Jennifer, a senior now at Potomac (MD) was expected to be a big key to this year’s season, while Antonio Pittman, a senior athletic forward, will face the Trainers when Ballou is played.

In addition to this experience and talent drain, McKinley is “under-enrolled right now”, said Brockenberry, leading to a smaller internal talent pool for which to populate a team.

“We are rebuilding” conceded Brockenberry after school today, while the institution’s football and soccer players practiced on Tech’s field turf surface. “I didn’t go and steal any players from anybody. I’m going to teach what I have and work with what I’ve got”.

Can that be construed as understating his team? Possibly.

“Everybody thinks we are not going to come out of it” he said, before adding “We like a challenge”. In Brockenberry’s estimation, “We have to get it right”, and the Trainers “By the second half of the season, we should get it right”.

DJ Nicholson (left) checks Rod Smith in fooball practice for Tech.

Buoying Brockenberry’s hope is a trio of players – Calvin Banks, Roderick Smith, and Desmond Nicholson – along with a few others, both returning and first year varsity guys. The coach also plans to implement several adjustments, including to their offensive pace “which is going to have to be quicker”, focusing on the three student-athletes listed above getting into transition. Defensively, expect McKinley to “pressure in the backcourt” as they “can’t let it get to the front court”.

Tech’ plans to begin their season on November 22nd with a tilt at DeMatha (MD), while Carroll (DC) is slated to be visited on December 3rd. Friendship Collegiate travels to Tech on December 22nd and a date with National Christian (MD) that same month, is being finalized now. Mount Vernon Christmas Tournament fans can expect a return of the he Maroon and White over the holidays.

Tech’s first league game will be December 1st at Theodore Roosevelt, a school Brockenberry shared his team has developed a rivalry with: “Rob Nickens (Roosevelt’s coach) has to get his in. It (the rivalry) started when they beat us in the playoffs (’07-’08) beat us by 12)”.

Some of the players that will be called upon to prove expectations wrong:

Calvin Banks – 6’1”, 160 pound senior guard – Was second in scoring with 14 points for Tech as a starter last year, and has been in the first five since 10th grade. Banks, a good shooter, can handle the ball, and plays with some savvy. Has a 3.6 GPA and scored 1490 on the SAT. West Point has expressed interest, as has, according to Brockenberry, North Carolina State assistant coach, Pete Strickland.

Roderick Smith - 6’1”, 185 pound junior shooting guard – Extremely athletic, Smith is a two sport guy that plays receiver and quarterback on the gridiron, while also attacking the cup and finishing around the rim. Expect his recruitment to pick up in both sports. Averaged nine points per game ’08-’09, and started. .

New varsity guy Ronald Curtis must grow up quickly.

Desmond ‘DJ’ Nicholson – 5’10”, 160 pound senior point guard - A returning starter, Desmond “turned it on the second half of the season” last year according to his coach, and resultantly averaged seven points a game. Nicholson is also a football player, competing as a defensive back for the Trainers.

Tyreke Hairston – 5’7”, 160 pound senior point guard – Brockenberry said of Hairston, “he’s a quick point guard” that will impact “off the bench”.

Ronald Curtis – 6’4”, 208 pound junior forward – Having been elevated from junior varsity, Curtis can bring needed physical presence, which is good as Brockenberry allowed “He might have to play some five (center) for us”.