Eagle Academy graduated standout seniors Donte Adams and Stedman Allen from a team that finished second in Bronx AA and was upset in the first round of the PSAL Class AA playoffs. Yet Rodney Plummer, the program architect and coach, not only thinks the Eagles are much improved this year, but they can win a city championship “realistically speaking.”
He isn’t saying it to get a reaction; Plummer is extremely confident. There are a few key additions, players up from Eagle’s successful junior varsity, but the biggest change, he said, is the improvement of his core seniors – notably point guard Gerard Carty and forward Jalen Chapman.
“I’m pleasantly surprised at the growth of my returning seniors,” Plummer said. “They’re back with a different mindset, ‘We’ve got to do it Coach’s way.’ I’ve been getting exactly what I want from them, in terms of intensity and intelligence on the court.”
The 6-foot Carty was thrust into a starting role last year when the incumbent, Craig Robinson, tore his ACL. He had a successful year, but was often out of control. He played at one speed – too fast. After a summer on the AAU circuit with Abyssinian Church, he’s become more of a controlled player.
“His court sense, his maturity as far as the game goes, he understands the game a lot better,” Plummer said. “This year he knows how to make an adjustment. He actually manages the team on the court. He has matured immensely over the last year.”
Plummer had similar kind words for the 6-foot-7 Chapman, a load inside who averaged five points and seven rebounds year ago. His younger brother, Juwan, will see time in the backcourt, along with fellow JV callup Da Sean Jones. Like Juwan Chapman, who averaged 18 points for the JV last winter, Jones is just 5-foot-9, but he finds a way to score inside nevertheless.
“The kid is going to surprise the league,” Plummer said. “The kid plays so big under the basket it’s scary. He gets off his feet so quick and he’s so smart under the basket.”
Seniors Najee Senior, Rashawn Solomon and Bruce Simms will also be counted upon for big minutes. The 6-foot-2 Senior is a light-out shooter, Solomon may be Eagle’s best finisher and Simms is the team’s top defender.
Plummer likes everything he’s seen so far this preseason, including impressive performances in scrimmages against Iona Prep, Transit Tech and Bedford Academy. The biggest difference is on the defensive end, a weakness last year Plummer now feels is a strength.
“These guys have bought into the system early,” he said. “Last year it took three-quarters of the year to buy into it, they bought into it and they reverted back [to bad habits]. … Defense creates offense, therefore defense wins games. Although we played [defense] at times last year, it was lacking for most of the season. This group is more of a team, they rely and depend on each other more and they tend not to let each other down.”