I should've known Upper Darby was due for a strong season ... when coach Bob Miller deflected preseason attention upon other teams in the Central League.

When asked about his club, Miller told me to talk to the coaches from Ridley, Strath Haven and Springfield. That's usually a good indicator that a team is going to win -- a lot.

That's what Upper Darby has done thus far, winning its first 16 contests overall and the first 11 of its Central League slate. They have to be at or near the top of the District One Class AAAA tournament points scale.

And for good reason: the Royals are for real, something that looked more apparent following their win Tuesday over Springfield.

They have a post presence in senior center Daron Harris (6-5, 240) that is unmatched in the Central League. No one can keep a body on Harris without getting into foul trouble.

Elsewhere, junior Brandon Hashim (pictured) and Terrence Bridgers have long, lean, athletic bodies on the perimeter that create headaches on defense and matchup problems on offense. They are the Royals' leading scorers. And point guard DJ Johnson, a senior, is one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the county.

I can't help but think Upper Darby stands a great chance at making the PIAA playoffs this season. In District One, all it takes is two wins in the tourney ... or one win and staving off trouble in three rounds of elimination games.

Keep an eye on the Royals. They could be around deep into the winter.