As coach of Miami High School, Marcos “Shakey” Rodriguez compiled a record of 428 wins, 62 losses and five state titles. During his tenure at Dr. Michael Krop High School, Coach Rodriguez has gone 118-24. Last season Rodriguez led Dr. Michael Krop High School to a 25-5 record and culminating the season by losing in the regional championship, 74-66, to eventual state champion, Coral Reef High School.

When a coach with a career record of 553-86 makes the statement “Our team will be good with potential for great. Good depth, great point guard play, good shooters and size. This has a chance to be my best team since I’ve been at Krop” you can expect them to be one of the top teams in the state, regardless of class.

Krop’s backcourt returns the team’s leading scorer in Angel Rodriguez, a 5’11 point guard in the class of 2011. Rodriguez averaged 18ppg and 8apg and earned All-County as a sophomore. John Dahari, a 6’3 wing guard in the class of 2010, averaged 13ppg and earned 3^rd team All-County as a junior. 5’10 junior point guard, Pat George, will provide basketball “IQ” as a back-up point guard to Angel Rodriguez. Corey Davis, a 5’11 senior guard, will bring some athleticism and perimeter shooting to the back court.

Holding down the fort in the frontcourt for the Lightning will be senior center Joe Thomas. As a junior, Thomas averaged 12ppg, 10rpg and earned 2^nd team All-County. Joe can expect some help this year handling the paint with young and talented sophomores Ty Haughton and Dylan Karell, both of whom are rapidly developing under Coach Rodriguez’s tutelage. Haughton is a 6’9 shot blocking center that is still raw but a great athlete. Karell, a 6’8 sophomore forward, is young, but skillful and talented.

When commenting on his players, Coach Rodriguez said: “Angel Rodriguez is a scoring pg, all around player and a tough player who is a great finisher around the rim. Didn’t shoot it well his sophomore year, but is shooting the heck out of it in our off-season. He is physically a very strong kid and great defender. He is going to be a heck of a point guard at the next level, and might be ahead of Javi Gonzales at the same age. John Dahari is a great shooter and hard worker. He is smart player and has added putting the ball on the floor and getting to the bucket better to his game. He is a dead eye shooter, and had several 20- 25 point games as a junior. He is going to be a big part of our success this year.”

“Joe Thomas is a strong inside player, a great rebounder, but a pure inside player. Plays 10 feet and in, and has a very effective inside. He is a long 6’7 player with a great jump hook. He has a very good all round game and works extremely hard. He will make a very good post player at the mid major level. Ty Haughton is very long and athletic and raw. He is a great shot blocker, and his game is further along defensively then offensively. Offensively he dunks everything, but we need to polish his game. We are working with him on adding weight. He is going to be a big time d1 player, no question. Dylan Karell is a highly skilled post player; he can shoot it and put it on the ground. He isn’t super athletic, but he is really skilled in the post and has a chance to be a high major big man before its all said and done with.” – Coach Rodriguez

This article was written by Ryan Pannone. Ryan is the head coach of Oldsmar Christian School in Oldsmar, FL. Ryan coaches the boys senior high basketball team and has been a coach since 2006. He is very involved in off season summer leagues, tournaments, and camps throughout the state of Florida.

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