The Dunbar Poets start their playoff run next Tuesday (2/28) with a bye as they await the winner of the Southside Academy/Maritime Academy game. The Patterson Clippers look to rebound as they play Hereford in the first round of playoffs this Friday. Stay tuned, it's about to heat up!

Courtcred: Tell us about when in high school you started to get D-1 looks and what made you choose George Mason?

Jai Lewis: I started get interest for basketball after my junior, when I started playing AAU basketball with Baltimore Select. But I started getting recruited hard when i attended prep school at Maine Central. I choose GMU because they had a lot of things in place to make sure i would excel on and off the floor. I also decided on Mason cause it was far enough but close enough from home.

Courtcred: There has been a a lot of talent to come out of Harford County why do you think that people sleep on it?

Jai Lewis: Yes, there has been a lot of talent to come out Harford county and there could have been so much more. The one major reason why i think the county is slept on is because there is no big time/named schools with exposure like the city schools. But if as long as the County school schedule to play a lot of city schools in the out conference schedule things will be fine.

Courtcred: Tell us about your experience of not only making the tourney but knocking teams out that you were "supposed" to lose to?

Jai Lewis: My experience from making the tourney and going on that run is something that will last a life time. From being an 11th seed and beating 3 teams that won the national tourney in the 3 past years of the 06 tourney in incredible. One thing in sports and in life no matter how big of an underdog you are there is always a chance.

Courtcred:  What's different from playing in the states vs playing overseas?

Jai Lewis: The major thing in playing in the states than overseas is family. You are so many miles away from family and you are unable to just pick and go see them when you get a break like you would in the states. Playing overseas is basically learning how to adjust to different cultures and how things are done. But the basketball is pretty much the same.

Courtcred: Do you and Gary Neal (old teammates) still talk

Jai Lewis:  Yes, Gary and I talk whenever we get a chance. We may send a twit or a facebook message here and there. Whenever we are home during the summer we do play and the same gyms so we get to chat about things going on in the world.

Courtcred:  What's one word of advice you would give to those in Harford County that feel they will get overshadowed by the city?

Jai Lewis: I don't think i can say it in one word, but i would tell them just to advantage of the times you play the city schools cause you never know who is watching. Also to keep working at what you do and try to find ways to get the exposure that you want.

Kris Jenkins on the other hand was thrust into the position of being the team leader when UNC signee Nate Britt went down with an injury. Countless times when his team's back was up against the wall he came through; he his the game winning 3 pointer to overcome Aquille Carr's 36 point outing, a week later he lead his team to a victory of Dematha by 2 points (dropped 27), and lead his team to a 19-0 record once again putting his team on his big shoulders. Kris stands 6-6, 250 pounds and can shoot with the best of them. No wonder they call him the "big ticket." You can be sure that when Nate Britt came back he was thankful that his big man held it down as he did. With all that being said and done good job Kris, YOU DESERVE to be called the 2012 WCAC Player of the Year. I didnt even mention the fact that he is a junior. With it being clear who the leader of the team will be for next year he will only get better. I think we all can say it's safe to say his recruitment will go through the roof. Stay tuned for more from the "big ticket."