Friends has struggled to find success in boys basketball and is coming off a 3-20 season. Making the MIAA B Conference playoffs since the Qukers moved up from the C Conference for the 2001-2002 season has been difficult.
"They've had a lot of lean years," Friends coach Al Holley said.
This year, however, has been different. The Quakers are 8-8. They've beaten defending B Conference champion St. Paul's and A Conference opponent Glenelg Country.
"I think we are on a good trend upward," Holley said. "I think it's important for our players to understand what they are capable of and that they can play with anybody. It's important to play teams you aren't supposed to beat. It gives you confidence to know that you can."
Holley has confidence in his team.
"I think we should be in the mix to win the league championship," he said. "When I look at the landscape of the league, I think we have as much talent as anybody. It really does come down to the mentality they bring into each game."
Glenelg Country coach Kevin Quinlan said Holley deserves a lot of credit for Friends' resurgence.
"Holley is doing an awesome job," Quinlan said. "He's gotten some great athletes and very skilled players in here."
Holley said it's about more than talent.
Arriving at Friends, he wanted to change the culture after compiling a 137-26 record and winning two state championships at Milford Mill Academy.
"One of the things I think I was able to bring here was a winning expectation," he said. "Then you bring a winning work ethic and a winning attitude."
Sophomore Myles Douglas, a 6-foot-7 forward, also has been a huge part of the Quakers' success.
He's averaging 24 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists per game after playing in only eight games during his freshman year because of a knee injury..
Holley said Douglas has been recruited by Maryland, Virginia, Miami, West Virginia and USC.
"He's that good," Holley said. "It's sort of unusual combination for a kid that young and with his size to be that skilled. To be 6-7 in the 10th grade and be able to handle and shoot the ball and be able to go to the basket and shoot free throws. It's sort of a rare combination."
Douglas has more talent to work with this season with the arrival of two transfers: 6-4 sophomore shooting guard Jihar Williams (City College) and 6-9 junior center Ryan Gomes (Westminster).
Williams is averaging 17 points in his first varsity season and scored a season-high 26 points against St. Paul's.
"He is more of a scorer, but we are trying to teach him to do some other things," Holley said. "But he's really an elite shooter. That's the gift he has. I expect him to play at the Division I level."
Gomes is averaging 8 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.
"There's not many big guys like him in the area," Holley said. "So he ends up guarding smaller people quite often. He plays good defense."
Friends is also getting contributions from the two other starters, sophomore shooting guard Ross Jones and senior point guard Randy Gregory, and two reserves, guards Aiden Filer and Kolby Wheeler.
"We should have a winning season," Quakers assistant coach Ron Jones said. "Frankly, I think we can. We have built with the young guys and the arrival of the transfers was kind of the last pieces to the puzzle." .