Before today, the last time Mount Vernon played a game that didn't include Michael Coburn was March 17, 2002.

Think about that for a moment. Mount Vernon lost that game, 70-54, to Henninger in the state semifinals at Glens Falls. Jomo Belfor was the star of that team. Belfor was a part of the Ben Gordon-led Mount Vernon dynasty. Six months later, Coburn arrived.

Coburn might be gone but not much has changed. The two-time defending Class AA state champs pounded Gorton, 110-50, at Mount Vernon High in their season opener. Sherrod Wright had 22 points and West Virginia-bound Kevin Jones added 17 points, seven rebounds and five steals.

Like it's been for so long at Mount Vernon, it was the guard-play that was most impressive. Jordan Lessane and Ketema Brooks, who combined to average 4.0 points per game last season, each had breakout games. Brooks had nine points, 13 assists and seven steals, and Lessane had 18 points on 9 of 11 shooting.

Brooks and Lessane are going to be a special combo this season, assuming freshman Jabarie Hinds doesn't push one of them out of the starting line (more on him later). Brooks and Lessane are two guys that really competed for time last year and had to share minutes as Coburn rarely left the floor. Lessane is a gifted shooter who was probably under-used last year, and he had to sit behind Brooks, who you couldn't pay to shoot the ball. It's a strange dynamic.

Now they're both on the floor, starting together and today, they showed they're a perfect complement to each other. They can both run the point. They can both play off the ball and spot up. Lessane is finally getting to show what he can do in playing more than three consecutive minutes, and Brooks displayed what he can do when he takes more than three shots.

Coburn was a phenomenal talent. But in some ways, I like this combination just as much, especially now that Hinds is proving he belongs in the rotation. Those three give the Knights a ton of options and depth that they simply didn't have last season.

Hinds was so explosive going to the basket and you can see how much confidence he has gained, even from last season. Watching Hinds penetrate and attack the basket was like watching a toddler realize they can run. Hinds was fearless but a little erratic. Coach Bob Cimmino watched Hinds take some ill-advised shots and go wildly toward the hoop. Cimmino, though, didn't yell. You could tell he loved Hinds' aggressiveness and knows that he'll learn on his own how to temper it. Most freshman are too afraid to step on the court. Hinds was trying to dunk over guys a foot taller.

When I asked Cimmino about it afterwards, he just smiled. It was probably the best answer.

It reminded me of watching Coburn come off the bench as an eighth-grader and trying to direct traffic and run the offense in 60-point win over Roosevelt. I clearly remember it. It was a remarkable sight.

Odds are, in four years, I'll probably be quoting the last time Mount Vernon played a game without Jabarie Hinds.