Gwynn Park is ready for action

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Gwynn Park is poised to see the MD Big Dance again.

December 6, 2010 - Having lost in last year's Maryland 2A State Final, Mike Glick's Gwynn Park Hornets left the University of Maryland's Comcast Center dejected and down, emotions that are understandable as the coach shared "We haven't won one since '88, and I've been to two state championships in four years". Adding to the school's angst is having "been to nine state Final Fours and seven championship games since '88, losing them all". Gwynn Park has a history that increases its desire to win, as 10 Maryland state titles have been secured by Gwynn Park; it has an expectation of success.

So does Glick in 2010-2011, his fifth Gwynn Park season: "Our number one goal is a state championship. There's really nothing else".

Despite facing a Murder's Row of 2A teams in the Free State, his squad could be built for it, returning four starters, eight veteran varsity and six four year players, leading him to rightly conclude "I've got a very, very experienced team".

 Tion Barnes loves to rattle the rims.

That includes 6'3", 190 pound senior shooting guard Brandon Ford, who is headed to Loyola (MD) next year, a player capable of filling up the basket. Senior forward Teon Barnes, standing 6'5" and weighing 210 pounds, is an athletic, rugged forward that fills lanes, defends and causes havoc. Barnes may be headed to Bowie State in 2011.

Marcel Boyd, a player Glick indicated "has only played two years. Is raw...He's a former football athlete that has only played two years of basketball. Boyd is a mid to high major athlete that has good hands", and should turn many heads this season as a 6'9", 230 pound junior big man. JUCO-bound, 6'0", 160 pound point guard Daniel Henry runs the show for Gwynn Park, while junior center 6'11", 270 pound Kevin Walters is a developing big man.

Simply put, GP is loaded this year.

A lineup with size, experience and skill, matched with Glick's coaching drive, could very well propel Gwynn Park past last year's 20-6 and statewide number two finish. To get there the Hornets must traverse a schedule that includes a National High School Hoops Festival matchup with I.C. Norcom (VA), an always challenging Prince George's County 3A/2A slate, along with participation in this year's Maryland Hoops Classic, Christmas-time event. There, Gwynn park is set to battle Vance (NC) in first round action, with a possible tilt with PG 4A power Wise after that.

"We are going to be a defensive oriented team that's bigger than most public schools in the state. We will rely on fast breaks and limiting teams to one shot" said Glick of how he plans on utilizing Gwynn Park, which he dubbed "easily my best team I've been at Gwynn Park".

The buzz around these Hornets are for real.