Franklin coach Ken Hamilton says, "Everybody's giving it to Gratz, but I like Franklin Learning Center. I think they have the best player in the league."
That would be Faron "Meatball" Hand, a 6-5 1/2 junior whose physique more than justifies his nickname. He weighs between 235 and 250 pounds, and, says Hamilton, "there might be people who are going to score more points in a game, but when it comes down to it and you need two points, nobody can stop the Meatball."
The Meatball returns from an FLC team that met Gratz in the final last year. Four of the six other top players are back, too: senior point guard Karriem Parker; Keino Terrell, a 6-0 senior guard; Isaiah Russell, a 6-4 junior swingman, and Clifford Dunn, a 5-10 junior guard.
One of the few people with the team who didn't see the title game was coach Pete Merlino. He suffered a heart attack at the Civic Center before the start of the semifinal against Bartram and was bedridden through the final. His brother, John, with help from Hamilton - a close friend - took over on the bench.
"I'd like a rematch with Gratz," Merlino said. "And this time, I want to see the game."
One newcomer should play a huge role: Tyrone Weeks, a 6-6, 225-pound sophomore forward, whom Merlino called "a monster."
The nine-man rotation also will feature Michael Bryant, a 5-10 senior guard; Timothy Casino, a 6-4 junior swingman, and Rahsaan Morris, a 5-10 freshman guard.
Gratz is also remarkably deep.
The big names in the all-star cast are Levan Alston, a 6-3 point guard who has signed with New Orleans; Rasheed Wallace, a 6-10 sophomore; Andre Griffin, a 6-3 senior; Calvin Wingfield, a 6-6 senior; Contrell Scott, a 5-10 junior; Kirkaldy; Smith, and Jamahal Redmond and Anthony Dozier, a pair of 6-5 forwards.
Smith, at 5-9, has been compared with Pooh Richardson, among other outstanding guards. Redmond got a lot of playing time last year, and Dozier developed tremendously over the summer, coach Bill Ellerbee said.
