Rebuilding Loomis Team Prepares to Tip Off Season

The Loomis Chaffee boys basketball program has experienced its share of highs and lows. The Pelicans are coming off of their first losing season in 12 years (9-15), only a year after winning the New England Championship.

Coach Jim Dargati is hoping his squad will return to top form this season, but it will have to overcome a string of recent injuries to do so.

"In the preseason, there was a lot of excitement around the program," Dargati said. "But that has been somewhat tempered by a rash of injuries. Currently four of our top seven players are out with injuries."

Injuries have plagued Loomis since last season since when their returning MVP, current offensive lineman for the UConn football team, Teddy Baker, was lost for most of the season.

If Dargati's squad is going to be successful, he knows injuries can't play a big role this year.

"The New England prep school conference is extremely competitive, and injuries just can't be a part of the mix if we're going to be contenders," he said. We've got to get healthy really quickly, and I think that's going to be a big part of how well we play early in the season."

If injuries are avoided, Dargati has the utmost faith in his team's ability to remain competitive.

"I do like our guys. I think we've got some athleticism, and we've got some toughness. Although there isn't a lot of depth, I think our guys are committed to working hard, playing together, and competing every single day," he said.

The 6-foot-2 guard Cory Morgan is one player Dargati is looking to for leadership. Morgan is the team's sole returning starter and will be expected to get to the rim on a regular basis.

T.J. Staten is also expected to step up into a primary role this season. Dargati describes the forward as "a kid that we're going to count on to score from the perimeter for us, a very good outside shooter."

With Staten and Morgan stretching the floor, the Pelicans have a 6-9 big man in the paint. Center John Hawkins' size alone should make him a forced to be reckoned with.

Loomis will host Deerfield Academy on Wed., Dec. 8. Tip off is at 4:30 p.m.