Published on: Thursday, December 06, 2012

By Brandy L. Simms

ROCKVILLE - Despite the graduation of several key players, Montrose Christian senior Ishmail Wainright has great expectations for the Rockville private school this season.

The 6-foot-6 forward played on a Mustangs team that finished 21-3 last season with standouts Justin Anderson (Virginia) and Michael Carrera (South Carolina) leading the program.

Anderson and Carrera have moved onto greener pastures, leaving Wainright at the controls.

“My role is to just be a leader,” said Wainright, a Baylor signee who earned All-Sentinel honors last season. “That’s my main concern. That’s all I want to do is just lead my team and keep Montrose at the top.”

During his junior campaign, Wainright, a four-star recruit, averaged eight points, eight assists and three steals per game and helped lead the Mustangs to a national ranking.

“Ish is just one of those special players that has the ability to make everyone better but also have an influence on the game through his leadership and through his defensive efforts,” said Montrose Christian head coach Stu Vetter. “He’s just a really very special player.”

Meanwhile, Magruder appears to be a likely favorite to return to Comcast Center to defend its Class 4A state championship despite the graduation of Garland Owens, the 2011-2012 All-Sentinel Player of the Year. However, the Colonels boast a three-headed monster in senior guards Nick Griffin, J.J. Epps and Justin Witmer who are expected to lead the team this season. The talented trio was named All-Sentinel last season.

“Brian Coleman is going to have to step up a lot and take the role of Garland,” said Epps. “Everybody is going to share the scoring.”