Springbrook Coach Keith Adams must replace four graduating starters from this year’s 24-4 team that reached the Maryland 4A Championship Game and was ranked No. 5 in the Final Washington Post Top Twenty Rankings.

The most significant losses, of course, are All-Met guard Folarin Campbell and All-County swingman Louis Brookins. The two combined for over 46 points a game.

Coach Adams’ rebuilding process will begin with 6’4” center Louis Woodland, the lone returning full-time starter. Woodland is also a High D-I college football prospect who is drawing interest from the University of Maryland and a number of other top collegiate football programs.

“As far as I’m concerned, we really return two starters,” Coach Adams told Md.Varsity.com. “Even though we technically started four seniors, David Brewster was playing 15-20 minutes a game by the end of the year and had become a really important part of what we were doing. He was playing very well, making big shots and playing very well in big games.”

Brewster played a critical role in the Blue Devils thrilling, down-to-the buzzer victory over Magruder HS in the region final. The slender 6’3” sophomore hit a deep three pointer late in the third quarter to break a tie and put Springbrook ahead of the Colonels for good.

“David had a great game against Magruder. In addition to the big three pointer he hit, he did a great job of filling in for Folarin and Louis when they got in early foul trouble. He helped us stay close when we had some top players in foul trouble.”

Brewster is an athletic wing player who can shoot to the three-point arc, but also has the ability to slash and score around the basket.

“David is 6’3” and growing. He is a talented player, but we were able to afford the luxury of kind of bringing him on slowly last year because we had so many seniors,” said Adams. “I think he’ll be a “2” (wing guard) in college, but we mostly played him at “4” (power forward) last year. Next year, I think he’ll play the “3” (small forward) position that Louis Brookins played for us this year. Playing “3” in our system, David will be able to utilize both his inside and outside skills. Maybe by his senior year, we might play him full-time at the wing guard position.”

This year is Brewster’s first year at Springbrook.

“David came here from New Orleans through New York. His sister is a Springbrook alumnus. He is from a great family. He is a great kid, a very good student. He is a talented kid, but he is very grounded. The fact that he is grounded and has good perspective will help him with his maturation process. David played very well at the Comcast Center (in the State Playoffs), but, after the Northwestern game he realized that he still needs to get stronger and work on his game.”

Brewster scored 9 points in the Championship Game loss to the Wildcats, including hitting a three pointer. After the Northwestern contest, a prominent D.C. area scout told MdVarsity.com that he regarded Brewster as “… a player to watch in 2006. I liked his athleticism and the way he played for a young player in such a big game.”

Coach Adams said that the Blue Devils will be playing in The Rock League at High Point High School this summer. They will also be attending Team Camp at Eastern Invitational. Adams said that Brewster has played periodically with a couple of different AAU teams, but that he does not have a sole, long standing AAU affiliation.

“David has played some AAU ball and might play in some events (this Summer), but he will mostly be playing with us this summer.”

Coach Adams doesn’t want to create too much pressure or too many expectations for Brewster, though he believes the versatile swingman could take his game up a level as a junior.

“David is very talented and will be capable of being a big scorer next year. But, I think that part of his maturation process will be to provide leadership and become an all around player, not just a scorer.”

“There are people who will want David to be the ‘next Folarin Campbell’. I’ve told David I don’t want him to be the next Folarin, I just want him to be the best David Brewster that he can be,” said Coach Adams.

MdVarsity.com enjoyed watching Brewster begin his evolvement into a promising player as a sophomore. We will be tracking his continued development and recruitment over the 2005 and 2006 seasons.