Cadets turning to Brothers

Darien Brothers will play next year at the University of Richmond. Fortunately for Benedictine High School basketball, Darien Brothers has broad shoulders.

For much is riding on them this winter.

The 6-3, 200-pound senior has graduated from role player to leading man for the Cadets' defending Virginia Independent Schools champions.

"The focus is on Darien now," Benedictine coach Sean McAloon said. "That's fine. He welcomes the challenge."

The Cadets popped the top on their season last night in the Rebel Invitational at Douglas FreeMan with a 76-60 win over Varina. They also play tomorrow and Saturday in the annual event.

Vacancy sign: The Freeman tournament signals the start of the "A.E." era" - After Ed - in Cadets hoops.

Ed Davis, 6-9 and The Times-Dispatch player of the year, now is playing at the University of North Carolina.

Also missing from a 28-7 club are 6-5 Bradford Burgess (VCU) and 6-8 Wayne Whiting (VMI).

"I'll have to step it up and be a leader," said Brothers, who signed in November with University of Richmond.

Sometimes clinging to Davis' coattails, Brothers averaged 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in his first go-round at Benedictine after transferring from Monacan.

He honed his guard skills this past spring and summer with the Petersburg Elite and East Coast Fusion travel outfits.

Brothers chose UR over a list of suitors including Northeastern, and New Hampshire.

"Darien is a strong, athletic guard who can shoot and pass," UR coach Chris Mooney said.

Feeling frisky: Playing quarterback, Brothers frayed the meniscus in his right knee in the football opener and underwent arthroscopic surgery.

He returned to the hardwood, eager to jump back into competition. "I'm stronger, more explosive than before the injury," Brothers said.

McAloon said, "In practice, we don't have anyone who can stop him."

Green: That's the dominant color of Cadets' uniforms and also indicative of the inexperience.

Complicating matters, senior forward Brandan Connor suffered a broken arm and is out until January.

Taking over Davis' slot in the low post will be 6-5 junior Robert Thurston, up from the JV team.

"We'll be 10 times faster," McAloon said. "The problem will be depth and rebounding."

The Cadets' other returning regular is sophomore guard Erik Moody, who also played football.

Formations: Benedictine is a Catholic and military school. The adjustment was not an issue for Brothers, who is from a military family.

His mother, Shelley, is retired military and his dad, Wade Turner, is an E-8 stationed at Fort Meade, Md.

Brothers has risen to First Lieutenant in the school's military structure.

The only snag in transferring, Brothers said, is inheriting a degree of pressure that goes with a storied program.

"Yeah, you do feel pressure here because of all the history of winning," he said.