DUBLIN — Why is Marvin Latham smiling so much?Sure, basketball season is here, and there’s still that GHSA Class AA trophy to sneak a peak at every so often, and the memories of Dublin’s 31-1 season in 2008-9 will never die.
But Rashard Smith, the calm and complete point guard who was the All-Middle Georgia Boys Player of the Year and one of the top athletes in the state? Gone.
Chris Smith, the smooth guard with the inside-outside game? Gone.
Sherrard Brantley, the sharpshooting second-team All-Middle Georgia selection? Gone.
Power forward Trent Barnes, guard Ladale Thompkins and forward Jermaine Devoe, all key players off the bench? Gone, gone, gone.
The new point guard stands all of 5-foot-5 and is only a sophomore. There are but three seniors on the roster.
So no, Dublin isn’t anywhere near as loaded as this time a year ago. But if anyone thinks the Irish have no bullets in the chamber, that suits them fine.
They are pretty sure they’ll be able to prove otherwise.
“People think we’re totally empty,” Latham said. “We have a lot of kids back that played a lot of minutes for us last year. People just don’t understand. They didn’t get to play because we had some kids in front of them that were pretty doggone special.
“We had kids on the bench that would be playing for other people, without a doubt.”
Dublin does have a focal point returning in Tawaski King, an athletic 6-8 senior who is a veteran of the Irish’s running game and is represented more than once or twice on Internet videos for his on-court exploits.
But the Western Carolina signee doesn’t feel the spotlight.
“A lot of people want to put it on me, but it’s not on me,” he said. “It’s a team effort. We have some raw talent. We still have to work on some things.”
Ramahd Thomas, a 6-2, 185-pound junior, is the other returning starter, and King said he’s a player to watch.
“People are going to be really surprised at what he’s going to do this year,” King said. “His whole game (all) around, the way he’s going to lead.”
Trey Rozier is the sophomore point guard, and Ricky Brown and Tyrus Miller are the only seniors other than King.
The program may be to the point of reloading rather than rebuilding. The success started under former head coach Clinton Thomas has become the bar, and this group doesn’t have any worries about lowering it.
So while Dublin may not have as much starting experience back as a year ago, it has as much desire.
“The kids are really hungry,” Latham said. “After last year, the kids want that taste again. They loved it. I’ve just been surprised how hard they’ve been working.”
Dublin scrimmaged Class AAAA Butler recently and won by 16 points.
“I was a little surprised we went down there and played Butler, a AAAA school and handled business pretty good,” Latham said of the team coached by former Southwest head coach Emmett Rouse. “I was pleased.”
What Dublin lacks in experience, it makes up for in confidence. The Irish know the system, know the tradition and have already seen — against Butler and in a 24-1 summer ball season — what they’re capable of.
“We’re a young team,” Thomas said. “But we run more, a whole lot more. People think we’re not going to be anything. We’ve got another thing coming for them.”
And practicing against the starters will improve a skill set.
“The competition we were getting in practice a lot of days,” Latham said, “was better than what we were getting in games
King and Latham rave about Rozier, who will be running the show in place of Rashard Smith.
“He is going to be pretty doggone special,” Latham said, repeating the prediction. “He handled business against Butler. I think he’s going to be something special.
“He’s got ball-handling skills and he can shoot the 3 deep. By the time I get done with him, I think a few schools are going to come and look at him.”
Latham said the names on the back of the jersey may change, but it’ll still be Dublin basketball this season.
“The skill set is the same,” he said. “We’re still going to push the ball up and down the court. We’re going to play pressure man to man, get our pressure out and pressure people.
“Are we going to go 31-1? I doubt it, just being honest. I think we’ve got a shot to be in the mix. I think when it gets down to it, you’re going to hear Dublin’s name in the mix.”
King is more succinct, expecting a trip to Macon in March for the Final Four.
“I expect to get back to the Coliseum,” he said. “I really do.”
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