Schedule Now Available, The Stage Is Set

The 2009-2010 schedule is now available. You can find it all season long on the right-side column below the search bar.

Wharton gets set to compete in the 6A classification for the first time in school history. With a new classification comes a new district. The Wildcats will be competing in the 6A-8 district consisting of Bloomingdale, Brandon, Plant and Alonso.

Notable non-district match-ups feature Wharton in action against regional runner-up Ridgewood, 6A power Evans-Orlando, defending regional champion King, rival Freedom, uber-talented Newsome and a senior night battle against Gaither.

The district tournament will be held at Alonso High School from Feb. 11-13.

Smalling Passes, Former Opponents Pay Homage

Last Saturday night, Theo Smalling was left in critical condition after an accidental shooting. Earlier today, Smalling passed away.

In the aftermath of the obscene tragedy in which took the life of former Hillsborough County stand-out Theo Smalling, TBO.com published an article with responses from former opponents and teammates of the late Hampton University senior captain. Wharton's own Shawn Vanzant was asked for a few words about Smalling as a player.

“He was a fierce competitor. I always remembered how hard he played. I remember my junior year, coach always said to make sure we knew where he was on the court. If I could compare him to a player, it would be Dennis Rodman, but ten times more skilled. That was him. He was always going hard. He had a knack for being around the ball.”

- Shawn Vanzant

Smalling told family and friends that he had circled December 2, 2009 on his calendar. His Hampton University squad comes down to the Sun Dome to face USF. Smalling would have been able to play in front of the city that he was raised in.

You can read the rest of the responses here, TBO.COM SPORTS BLOG.

Ex-Bloomingdale Star In Critical Condition After Accidental Shooting

Ex-Bloomingdale Bull and Hillsborough County star Theo Smalling is in critical condition after being accidentally shot by a friend who mishandled a firearm.

Smalling, who currently attends Hampton University, graduated from Bloomingdale in 2006. His tremendous size and athletic ability made him a huge problem for opposing teams and was arguably one the most talented players in Hillsborough County over the past decade.

Smalling's coach at Bloomingdale commented on Theo's current health and stated that "it doesn't look good."

Keep Theo Smalling and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

The Countdown Is On

As the last handful of October days come to an end the true high school basketball fan knows what is waiting around the corner.

The calendar change to November solidifies the return of high school basketball and the talk around Wharton High School has already begun and the level of excitement continues to rise. Fans, players, faculty and followers all know what to expect from a team that is returning all three of it's top scorers. Especially when that team is being coached by the man who built the Wharton program from the ground up.

Head coach Tommy Tonelli is back on the high school hardwood after a two year absence where he served his alma mater, the University of South Florida, as the Director of Basketball Operations under Stan Heath. Coach T's return brings only the highest expectations because anyone who has been around the Wharton basketball program for the past decade knows that Tonelli's body of work can be summed up in one word: winner.

His resume is impressive and his record even more so, but this years squad may arguably be his most offensively talented in his 11 years with the school.

Everyone remembers the years of Jeff James and his high flying athletic ability and when Shawn Vanzant, Adam Noble and Anthony Gomez trounced district foes on a daily basis. But this year, Wharton has the ability to beat you on every spot on the floor.

Senior Damian Dixon's ability to shot the 3-ball is nothing new but he also emerged as a threat to attack the basket during the final stretch of last season. Junior AJ Astroth also possesses the ability to stretch the floor with his long-range shooting skills as well as his ability to shoot the mid-range jumper off the dribble. Finally, junior Xavier Owens' presence on the glass and growing mid-range abilities make the Wildcat's triple threat one that will be feared by all of their opponents.

Most basketball minds know that it takes more than just a few good scorers to hang a banner. You have to get it done on both sides of the ball. With a few new faces and a strong returning core, Wharton has the components to make a lot of noise around Hillsborough County.

Danny Miller, From Wildcat To Maniac

Danny Miller graduated back in 2007 but his school spirit has never wilted.

Miller, a student at Old Dominion University, is a captain of the Monarch Maniacs, the school's student spirit group that is infamously known for their loud presence at football and basketball home games.

Miller's school spirit was not always as flamboyant and eccentric as it is today. Transferring to Wharton High School after his sophomore year, he was forced to meet new people and re-establish a core of friends and used the Blue Crew to slingshot himself into the social crowd at his new school.

Miller was a former basketball star at his Virginia high school and knows just how much a rowdy home crowd can help boost the confidence of the home team. "I think its pivotal to a teams' success, its been proven that a loud student section can change the game drastically, whether it be hyping up your team or causing the opposing team to make mistakes." Miller said, "School spirit and a strong student section are essential if you want to have a winning program.

His energy and enthusiasm as a member of the Blue Crew was second to none, a trait that he has brought with him to ODU. Although he now calls ODU home, he will never forget the seasons he spent chanting "BLUE-WHITE" and what helped bring out his inner "maniac." When asked if his attendance and involvement in the Blue Crew had any weight on his option to join the Monarch Maniacs, he responded:

"Absolutely. The Blue Crew at Wharton was by far the most electric student body I had ever seen from any high school, Virginia or Florida. The Blue Crew definitely aided in my decision to join the Monarch Maniacs and so I could bring some of our chants from Wharton to ODU."

Miller is now a junior at ODU and has never been more involved with the Maniacs and looks forward to each and every opportunity he gets to show his school spirit. Whether it's at the school's first football games in the last 69 years or at the bracket-busting home of the university's basketball team, Miller is there loud and proud.

There were many high points of his Blue Crew career, heckling opposing Brandon High School players and drowning out the sounds of the Winter Haven Blue Devil fans, but Miller proudly states his greatest Blue Crew moment as "every game" he attended.

The Votes Are In!

The votes are in and the first TBC.net poll is officially closed. Thanks to all of you who took the time to vote and share your voice with the rest of the readers. The results are posted below.

How far will Wharton go in the upcoming 2009-2010 season?

Miss Playoffs 9%
District Runner-Up 5%
District Champions 57%
Regional Champions 10%
Final Four 5%
State Champions 12%

The general consensus is that Wharton, with each of the top 3 returning scorers coming back, will be the favorite to capture the district crown. The return of head Coach Tommy Tonelli doesn't do anything but make that more of a possibility as well.

Be sure to be on the lookout for the next poll which will be posted very soon!