Almost six months have passed since anyone has seen the Marion boys basketball team, but for David Clark, it might feel like a decade. Clark's 2021-2022 Patriots won 27 games, finished as conference runners-up, and overwhelmed the competition during the Class 5A state tournament at Sheridan. Marion played for a state title for just the third time in school history last March before losing to Jonesboro for the crown. “We have been really fortunate during my time here to be very successful here,” said Clark, whose 2018-2019 team won the state title. “I think we have had the right combination of great coaches in our program, hard-working kids, and a good administration. I think people across the state are starting to see the impact of the time that we have all put in to have this type of success.” The off-season proved eventful, in more ways than one. Following the title bout, Jonesboro bumped up to Class 6A, with Marion projecting to return almost 97 percent of its scoring for the 2022-2023 season. In July, however, a pair of all-state performers and an all-conference selection transferred from Marion, leaving Clark and his staff with three holes in his starting five. “We lost 10 players off of our varsity team just from last year,” said the coach. “We have to replace a lot of production in a short amount of time. But we have a really good junior varsity program, and the guys who were on JV last year have put in the work and improved a lot, so they've just been waiting for their time. They're willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win.” Awaiting the '22-'23 Pats is another competitive non-conference schedule that will have Marion traveling to prestigious tournament classics in Kosciusko, Mississippi, North Little Rock, Texarkana, Bartlett, Tennessee, and Duncanville, Texas. In league action, many pundits still believe Marion can overcome its losses to earn the 5A East crown in the absence of Jonesboro. Valley View replaces Jonesboro in the eight-team league, but the Blazers were just 10-10 a season ago with losses to Marion's league rivals Paragould, Greene County Tech, Searcy, and Nettleton. West Memphis and Batesville round out the 5A East for the next two seasons. “Playing this schedule will help prepare us for the state playoffs,” said Clark. “We might lose a couple of games at those tournaments, but playing in a hostile environment will be a good thing for our team. There aren't any off nights in our league because they're all good programs with great coaches.” While last year's team bid farewell to seven seniors in May, this season's edition of Patriot basketball boasts just three 12th-graders, all of whom will be counted on heavily. Senior swingmen Donnie Cheers, III, and Martavious Davis project as two of Marion's better perimeter defenders. Cheers, who owns the school touchdown reception record with 26, is Marion's only returning all-conference player. The senior scored a team-high six points in the state final against Jonesboro. Davis produced an industrious off-season. “Donnie and Tae Tae provide an unreal defensive presence,” said Clark. “They play with their hearts, they play emotionally, and that keeps them and us in games. They really want to win.” DeQuarrius “D.Q.” Brown doubles as a reliable ball-handler and three-point shooter. Brown connected on Marion's only triple in the Pats' benefit scrimmage victory over Wynne. Junior forwards Kayden Nesbitt and Jalen White “made the biggest jump of any kids I've seen in a very long time,” said the coach. “The amount of work they've put in on their games and on their bodies this summer has been inspiring.” Nesbitt and White each earned extensive varsity minutes a season ago, when juniors David Brewer and Jermiah Miller led the JV team. “Brewer and Miller are about to break out,” said Clark. “They probably play for us last year some if we didn't have so many guys elsewhere. They've stayed bought in and are ready to compete at the varsity level.” Juniors Avery Henderson and Daronta Brown offer depth. Sophomore guard Lyndell Buckingham paced the 22-4 junior high conference regular season and tournament champions in scoring and assists a season ago before promoting to the varsity for the stretch run and playing in every state tournament game, including the final when he scored four points and logged a steal. Buckingham shifted during the off-season from shooting guard to point guard and “that could take him to the next level,” said Clark. “We want to do everything we can to make sure that he becomes a Division 1 player. We feel like he can be our lead guard of the future.” Sophomore swingmen Mikell and Mitrell Lewis, who are twins, measured in at six-foot-four-inches during the off-season. “They'll give us some stability where we really need it,” said the coach. “They're long and athletic.” Cam Garrett, whose father was a standout athlete at Marion, is “a super physical wing,” said Clark. “He's athletic and doesn't mind rebounding.” Anthony Wilson reminds Clark of 2019 Class 5A state final MVP Keyshawn Woods because “he's scrappy and gets after it,” said the coach. “He earns his minutes on effort and tenacity alone.” Sophomores Dawon Smith, Dquenton Scott, Jameon Williams, Jaron Davis, Rylan Johnson, and Daryan Selvy develop.