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Highland Park High School boys basketball coach Derek Nobles looks at his 2009-2010 Owls before preseason workouts and sees three crucial elements—veteran leadership, consistent guard play and a forward-heavy roster.

After enduring a midseason slide last year, the Owls lost only one senior (Justin Brown) and will look to capitalize on some additional height and athleticism.  Undoubtedly, the squad will be led by senior guard David Webb, whose school-record interception total on the football field put him in the spotlight this fall.
“An athlete will be an athlete in any situation,” Nobles said.  “David rises to the occasion and I’ve watched him grow and mature over these years.  He had been apprehensive about a leadership role but he’s definitely more comfortable now in that spot and when it comes to breaking down defenses.”

Nobles believes that the since the team didn’t have a group of seniors last season, there was added pressure on the veterans to do “a bit too much.”

“Sometimes the urgency that was created by the pressure played in our favor, but other times it was just too much,” Nobles said.  “This year we can spread it around a little bit.”

There is still one big question mark to settle before game one—whether senior forward Nate Smith will suit up for the Owls at all this year.  He has verbally committed to play football at Temple University and may decide to focus on academics in the second semester.

“Academics always take precedent here with all of our teams,” Nobles said.  “I think we’ll be able to work out an arrangement where we can structure practice times and homework centers, so everyone can play and get their work done properly.  All the kids are held accountable for their schoolwork and they understand that.”

The fourth-year coach is seeing his first class of players step into the senior role—with six Owls participating in their final season of high school ball.

“I think our starting five will predominantly be seniors,” Nobles said.  “They have so much experience because they played at an early age.  I’m confident things will come together because there’s a real cohesiveness on this team and they know what’s expected of them.”

Highland Park will be deep up front as well, employing size in the form of junior Mike Long (also a wide receiver on the gridiron) and East Brunswick transfer Frank Husslein, who stands at 6’6.

“We know that we’ve got some height this year,” Nobles said.  “Frank was able to practice with us last year and now we’ve got a core of forwards that can complement our solid guard play.  That will add a different element on the court.”

The Owls are slated to open up the season on Dec. 18 at Blue Division foe Bishop Ahr, starting a stretch of five straight road games to begin ’09-’10 as well as seven of the first eight away from the borough.

HP’s home opener will be in a new decade, as the Owls bring in 2010 on Jan. 2 by hosting Middlesex at 1 p.m.  The Highland Park-Metuchen rivalry games take place on Jan. 13 at HPHS and Feb. 10 in Metuchen.  Scrimmages against Rutgers Prep, Academy Charter and Matawan will allow the team to come together before mid-December.

Nobles has high expectations for his squad, which he feels is more stable and much improved.

“I think realistically, we have a good chance to compete for the conference title,” Nobles said.  “There are still a couple of things to settle before we get into game action but we know what’s coming in and the different things we can bring to the table this year.”

If those pieces come together, HP could surprise some teams on the hardwood this winter.