By Aaron Heller\/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a blend of size, skill and camaraderie, the Hood College men\u2019s basketball team remains among the top of the Mid Atlantic Commonwealth Conference year in and year out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blazers are having their most successful season to date, making an unprecedented appearance in the top 15 of all the Division 3 teams in the country. The team notched significant wins against No. 22 Catholic University and York College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But how does a team built from zero seniors and eight underclassmen play at such a high level? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent years, the Blazers have graduated many impactful seniors, notably Trumaine Strickland, Garrison Linton, Mason Wang, Evan Wang and Christopher Smalls. Yet the team keeps getting better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recruiting plays a significant role in the Blazers’ yearly success, says coach Chad Dickman, who puts an emphasis on recruiting guys who match the Blazers’ play style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen recruiting, we obviously look for talent, but it has to match up with our style of play,\u201d Dickman said. \u201cWe focus on skill level, shooting, etc. more than athleticism, 1-on-1 abilities, ball-handling, etc.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each year, the Blazers lead the MAC in a number of categories, on both offense and defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So far this season, the Blazers lead the MAC in offensive scoring, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, team free throw percentage and total rebounds per game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are really hard to defend because we have such great versatility,\u201d Dickman said. \u201cEveryone can shoot, pass, and handle it, plus we have an unselfish group that moves the ball pretty well, so it\u2019s difficult for opponents to focus too much on one or two players.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coach Dickman has complete trust in the Blazer rotation. \u201cWe probably have guys that step up each year that people are surprised by, but it\u2019s not a shock to anyone in the program because we see it in practice daily,\u201d Dickman said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This season, the Blazers are led by junior Jevon Yarbrough, who leads the team with 24.6 in points and 5.4 assists per game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yarbrough says he believes the Blazers success this season comes from the team’s willingness to practice how they play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have achieved this success by coming into practice every day with the same hunger and drive we had before the season when people were doubting us,\u201d Yarbrough said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With one week left in the season, the Blazers look to take their momentum into the MAC playoffs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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