The Emory and Henry Wasps look to have a great year in another loaded Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Wasps look complete with 10 lettermen returning and a solid group of 12 newcomers.

Coach Bob Johnson is prepared to enter his 26th season as the commander of the Wasps. Johnson, the 2003-2004 Co- Coach of the Year, holds the school record for wins with 342. The Wasps ended last season strong with the installment of the Emory and Henry Running Game. This style of play is similar to a style used by Coach Johnson in the early 90s when the Wasps were considered one of the toughest teams in the ODAC. Coach Johnson is faced with the challenge of replacing the leadership roles of graduated seniors Cortez Watson, Paul Redgate, and Dormeco Crawford.

The Emory and Henry “Speed Game” will see rotations of up to 3 groups of players. The run and gun type of play will fit well with strong returnees from last year’s team. Junior, Lance Reasbeck, led the team with 15.2 points per game. Reasbeck also led the team in steals (36) and shots made behind the arch (75). Reasbeck was named 2nd team All ODAC. Johnson is also looking for strong performances from Junior Korey Townsend. Townsend was 3rd on the team in points scored (12.7 ppg) and led in assists with 60.

The frontcourt will be loaded with talent this year. Senior Gary Kerns (5.8 rpg) should return strong, averaging 14.5 points per game last season. Another key to the frontcourt is the play of senior Will Schwartzstein, who led the Wasps in blocked shots with 35 and 146 rebounds.

With the rotation of so many players, expect to see almost everyone play every game. The strength of the Wasps is their depth. The Wasps are complete with players such as Hank Luton (9.4 ppg), Antonio Leary (3.1 ppg), Shavar Bland (3.1 ppg), Hansel Newman (2.5 ppg) and Danny Cantone (0.5 ppg) all rotating in. Don’t look for the one set of Wasps on the floor, but expect to see all of the Wasps on the court and playing hard and fast.

The Wasps are extremely young and have had 12 new additions to their roster including two transfers: Anthony Hairston (7.5 ppg at Washington & Jefferson and Roanoke, VA), Jarell Christian (Norfolk St and New Kent, VA), and the 10 freshman all are expected to see minutes in the Wasps up tempo style of play and they include: Brandon Bowman (Carroll County, VA), Keith Eldridge (Loudon, VA), Andrew Hart (Pulaski, VA), Kyle Huckins (Knoxville, TN), Robert Hudson (Nashville, TN), Cain Landreth (Brevard, NC), Joseph Morehead (Bland, VA), Bryan Sexton (Lebanon, VA), Angaza Thom (Brooklyn, NY) and Camillo Weinz ( Radford, VA).

The Wasps run into the 2005-2006 schedule expecting to build on last years finish. Look for the Wasps to make a fast paced run into the tough ODAC schedule.