You'll find some familiar names at the top of the Division II rankings as the Pembroke Academy Spartans look to defend their 2024-25 title.

 The player of the year has graduated, and two members of our 2025 NHsportspage Underclassmen team have left for prep school, leaving a deep field of contenders to battle to end up as the last team standing at UNH in March.

 Today, in our sixth of eight pre-season previews, we take a deep dive look at Division II Boys Basketball after speaking with all twenty head coaches.

 Our preview is brought to you by our great friends and partners at Nashua Community College!
 

 Pre-Season Top 10 Rankings

 1.  Pelham

 2.  Hanover

 3.  Hollis Brookline

 4.  Manchester West

 5.  Pembroke Academy

 6.  Bow

 7.  Merrimack Valley

 8.  Kennett

 9.  Oyster River

10. Coe Brown

Lurking outside the Top 10: Souhegan, Sanborn, Con Val, Lebanon, Milford, Kingswood and Laconia.

 The Pelham Pythons were expected to be in a rebuilding season a year ago after the loss of four starters from their 2024 championship team.

 That rebuild brought them all the way to the semifinals last March, where they were beaten by eventual champion Pembroke 57-42.

 With a good core returning, led by their all-state forward, head coach Joe Morin’s team is a very strong bet to be right back in the final four three months from now.

“ This is a very hard-working group, and it began immediately after our season ended against Pembroke,” said Morin. “ I figured the boys would want some time off after the season, but within a day or two, they were asking me about open gyms.”

“It’s a group that loves the game, and we have had a very strong off-season to prepare for the season.”

 All-state forward Brady Hegan returns after averaging 15.1 ppg as a junior and will again lead the Pythons. “ Brady has a great work ethic, and it is why he continues to improve,” said Morin. “ He had eleven double-doubles last season, and his goal is for eighteen this season.”

 Gavin Hastie will take over for the graduated Justin Bowlan at point guard after being the backup last season. “ Gavin is a good ball-handler and a capable scorer,” said Morin. “ He does a good job getting everyone involved.”

 Forward Luke Estell (10.9 ppg) provides toughness and rebounding for a team lacking size, while shooting guard Brady O’Connor returns after averaging 10.7 points a game last season.

“ Brady is a very good shooter and a multi-sport athlete who loves to compete,” said Morin. “He’s going to be a big contributor for us.”

 Troy Fornah is very good defensively in the backcourt. He will be joined in the rotation by glue guy Nick Giuffrida and 6’2 forward Osinachi Nwabueze, who Morin thinks could have a breakout season for the Pythons. “ He has worked very hard and taken a real step forward in his game,” said Morin.

“ This is a hard-working team, and we’ve got some experience from the semifinal run last season,” said Morin. “ We play a tough Hanover team right off the bat, so we will need to be ready to go. I know they’ll compete, and we are excited to get started.”

 One thing you never hear when talking to head coaches across the division is, ‘We get a break this week when we play Hanover.’

 No one particularly enjoys playing the Bears, and that’s just the way head coach Denver Greene wants it. 

“ We want to be an elite team defensively and hold you to one shot,” said Greene. “ That and make you work defensively by moving and sharing the ball. With twelve players back, we should be effective this season doing that.”

 6’3 Roy Lucas returns after averaging 12.3 ppg in an all-state season. “ He is a four-year starter, so he has seen it all at this point,” said Greene. “ He is so steady and a microcosm of our team. He defends and takes care of the basketball.”

 Sophomore Colin McLaughlin was the team’s second leading scorer in a quarterfinal loss to Oyster River and looks poised for a breakout season at the guard spot. “ We have big expectations for the season he is going to have,” said Greene.

“ He got valuable experience last season and has come back bigger, faster, and more aggressive.”

 Forward Wyatt Daigle was the team’s third leading scorer last season at 11.3 ppg. His return at the forward spot gives the Bears a reliable performer in the paint. “ He is undersized but a very good rebounder for us,” said Greene. “ He can knock down shots and get to the rim off the dribble.”

 Allie Muirhead is poised to join the rotation after battling injuries last season, while 6’3 Benson Friede, Sam Bagatell, and Cooper Sobel are expected to contribute immediately.

“ All five of our starters are over six feet tall, so we feel good about the athletes we will compete with,” said Greene. “ We get a great challenge out of the gate going to Pelham (in a game we’ll be covering), so we will need to be ready from day one.”

 The Hollis Brookline went from celebrating on the floor at UNH as Division II champions in 2018 to a one-win season in 2023.

 The long climb back leads them to 2026, where Ryan Kelley's team is more than capable of being the last Division II team standing in Durham. 

"We have our top three scorers back, and the kids got a taste of success last year getting to the quarterfinals," said Kelley. "They want to take that next step, and they put the work in over the off-season to compete with anyone this season."

 6'6 all-state center Alton Williams (12.5 ppg) returns after averaging a double-double last season. "He focused on his shooting stroke over the off-season. The elbow and mid-range jumpers for when defenses sag off him to try and protect the rim," said Kelley.

"He has come in as an improved player. He not only gets to the rim but also blocks shots and rebounds for us. He does it all."

 Junior shooting guard James Arthur averaged 14.3 ppg last season and also returns even better after a summer in the gym. "James is our emotional leader, and he really is someone his teammates know they can rely on," said Kelley. "He's a lights-out shooter."

 6'1 Dylan Kelley is the team's best on-the-ball defender and a capable scorer from the mid-range. "He's worked on those shots in the zone, the mid-range where you can find space," said his head coach/father. "His focus is to help the team in any way."

 Sophomore Renzo Bergskaug gives the Cavaliers depth in the backcourt, while Will McCoy is also expected to contribute immediately.

 Point guard Nick Korolev joined the team this summer after moving from New York, but injured his wrist in the pre-season. Kelley hopes for his return sometime in late January, making the Cavaliers even deeper heading into the second half of the season.

"We are more positionless on the floor than we were a year ago, and that's a style I really like to coach," said Kelley. "We have the players to be successful, now it's about going out and reaching our potential as a team."

 Year three of Rich Otis’s tenure at Manchester West has the feel of a season where the Blue Knights turn the corner and make a run at a post in Durham this March.

Four starters return from a 12-6 season, but the loss of all-state point guard Tevin Edmunds feels like more than just one starter has departed.

“ You don't just plug a player into his spot and move forward without a few hiccups along the way,” said Otis. “ He was not only an outstanding player but a leader for us on the floor and in the locker room.”

“ The group we have is a team I have a lot of confidence in. We return a good core group of rotation players and have freshman and sophomores who will be pushing them for playing time.”

 Max Houde moves over from shooting guard to point guard after averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game last season.  “ In my opinion, he is as good as any shooter in our division,” said Otis. “ What he has worked on is expanding his game, and he is about to show people that he is a playmaker and not just a spot-up shooter.”

 Brayden Mariano looks poised for a breakout season after averaging 13.3 ppg last year. “ He’s become a leader for us and has really matured,” said Otis. “ He helps us tremendously on both ends of the floor.”

“ They are as good as any backcourt in our division.”

 Otis calls Severin Aldadi one of the most improved players on the team, and he will be joined in the frontcourt by 6’4 Jermaine Gonzalez, who returns after missing last season with an injury.

“ We feel very good about our frontcourt. People forget we were without Jermaine last season. He’s going to make an impact,” said Otis.

 Luis Alcantara, Amara Freeman, and freshman Jacob Benturini are all expected to step in and contribute right away for a very deep Blue Knights squad.

“ We played a ton of basketball over the summer and into the fall,” said Otis. “ This is my third year with this group, and they understand the expectation and what we need to do to win.”

“ I really like this group a lot and am excited to get started.”

  The Pembroke Spartans return three starters from their 2024-25 championship team, but will look different when their title defense begins Friday night against Manchester West.

 Player of the Year Evan Berkeley is playing for Plymouth State, Devin Riel has graduated, and head coach Mike Donnell retired from coaching in October.

 Longtime assistant and former Belmont head coach Jim Cilley takes over a team with enough talent and experience to be the last team standing once again come March.

 " We lost six seniors, so there is certainly a lot of turnover, but this is a group that has played a lot of basketball together," said Cilley. " I had a lot of responsibilities working with Mike. I ran a good amount of practices and was in on in-game decisions, so there is not a significant amount of change."

 Longtime assistant coach Julia Labrecque returns as well, as the Spartans look to pick up where they left off.

 Where they left off was the winners' circle at UNH, and the player who helped get them there is back for a run at the Division II player of the year.

 Andrew Fitzgerald averaged 11.9 ppg for a balanced offensive attack last season, but it was his 26 points in a 63-54 title game win over Sanborn that looked like a harbinger of things to come. 

 "He's the guy now, and he 's ready for it," said Cilley. " He might be the best pure shooter I've ever coached, and we will work to get him the ball in spots on the floor where he is most effective."

 Zac Bemis moves over to point guard with the graduation of Berkeley ("He is a very good shooter and handles the ball well," said Cilley) and will be joined in the backcourt by Jackson Tanguay.

 " Jackson shoots the ball well and would have played more last season if we didn't have two all-state players in front of him," said Cilley.

 6'4 Javien Sinclair was excellent defensively against Sanborn all-state forward Dylan Rego in the finals, and Cilley feels like his senior forward is set for a breakout season. 

" Javien showed it in flashes last year and knows he needs to be consistent every night," said Cilley. " He really worked hard on his skills and his body over the off-season, and I'm expecting a big year from him."

 Colin Dube returns to the Spartans' rotation (“He has really improved and has exceptional footwork in the post,” said Cilley) and will be joined by Brayden Provost, Connor Craig, and backup point guard Devin Benton, who are all expected to contribute right away.

 " We will tweak a few things as far as my coaching strategy, but there won't be a change in our style of play," said Cilley.

 " I know this team can score. What I want to see is us become a tough, gritty team defensively and on the glass."

 " If we can get there, we have a chance to be in the mix for a championship again this season."

 The Bow Falcons will have a new look following the departure of Jake Reardon, a three-time member of the NHsportspage Underclassmen team, who averaged 16.7 points per game before transferring to prep school. 

 However, the team still should compete for a Top 4 seed, bolstered by three returning starters, all of whom have the potential for all-state seasons.

 " We are ahead of where we were at this time last year by a pretty good margin," said second-year head coach Eric Saucier. " The players understand what we are trying to do on both ends of the floor. It took until early February for it to click last season, so to be there now is a real positive for us."

 Brendan O'Keefe returns at the guard spot after averaging 10.5 ppg. last season. " Brendan has really come along," said Saucier. " He wants to win and puts a lot of work into making it happen."

 " He shoots the ball well and has improved defensively."

 6'4 Peyton Larrabee returns at center and has the complete confidence of his head coach. " We are going to demand a lot from Peyton this year, and he is capable of delivering," said Saucier. " He is going to play a bigger role offensively, and we want him to demand the ball when he has a good match-up in the post."

 "He's going to have a very good year for us."

 Sophomore Ben Reardon (7.3 ppg) worked his way into the starting lineup as a freshman and looks poised for a breakout season. " He has grown both physically and with his basketball IQ," said Saucier. " He's going to play a big role for us."

 Connor Eno returns after being the team's sixth man a year ago, providing defense and rebounding. At the same time, newcomers Cortez Hall, Jon Carlos Gin, and Kyle Cimis are all expected to contribute immediately.

 "We should be a deeper team than we were last season," said Saucier.

 " If we take care of the basketball, we can compete with anyone in the division," said Saucier. " Last year, in an overtime loss to Pembroke, we turned it over twenty-four times. In our playoff win over Manchester West, we turned the ball over 21 times. That cannot continue."

 "I'm happy with the way this group has come into the season and looking forward to the season with them."

 The Merrimack Valley Pride returns two starters for an 11-7 team in head coach Kelly O’Brien’s first season. With a senior-heavy roster, the goal is to get back to the tournament and make a little noise once they arrive.

“ We have seven seniors on the roster, and the goal is a home playoff game (top 8-seed),” said O’Brien. “ I feel very confident we have a group that can do it.”

 6’3 Ethan Dukette, who returns after averaging 11.2 points per game last season, might be one of the most athletic players in the division. “ He’s a super athlete, and he has really put in the work to get better over the off-season,” said O’Brien.

 Brady Smith gives the Pride a shooter who can extend defenses on the wing (“He can flare out, shoot it,” said O’Brien) while Thatcher Stearn returns to the rotation and will run the offense at the point guard spot.

“ Thatcher has a knack for finding guys in the right spot,” said O’Brien. “He’s looked good here in the pre-season.”

 6’2 Rodier Phaneuf gives the Pride a glue guy who will rebound and defend, while Carter Gabour and Chris Babonis will provide depth.

“ This is a team I really enjoy coming to the gym with every day. It’s been a smooth pre-season after coming in as the new head coach last season,” said O’Brien. “ We are excited to get started.”

 The Kennett Eagles will have a new look with assistant coach Bo Noung taking over as head coach.

 The Eagles are going to play at a much faster pace. “ We have playmakers but not a lot of size,” said Noung. “ The style of play that best suits us will be to push the ball and spread out offense. We want to extend every defense we face.”

 Shooting guard Bo Noung returns to the starting lineup and will see time handling the ball and playing on the wing. “ Bo has worked on extending his range and has improved his ability to get to the rim off the dribble,” said his head coach/father. “ He’s set to have a good season for us.”

 Marquis Twombley, coming off an all-state football season, will join him in the backcourt (“Marquis has looked very good in the pre-season,” said Noung) alongside point guard Kobe Noung.

 6’2 Jayden Duncan will contribute in the front court along with Jayden Jackson. “ There is a lot of upside with Jayden (Duncan),” said Noung. “ He is going to compete for a starting position.”

“We have seen flashes from (Jayden Jackson); he just needs to work to be more consistent, but he is certainly going to help us.”

“ Defense will be our offense. We want to turn teams over enough to create transition looks,” said Noung.

“ I believe in playing everyone, right down to the fifteenth guy, so everyone is expected and capable of contributing,” said Noung. “ We have some talented players coming up and good energy in the gym at every practice.”

“ The future looks bright for the program.”

 The Oyster River Bobcats made a surprise run to the final four in Zach Lewis's first season as head coach and now must replace their two leading scorers as they look to make another run in 2026.

"We had two ball-dominant scorers last season in Matthew Jernigan (now at prep school) and Brendan Kirby, and it was a very effective offense for us," said Lewis.

"This season we have a lot of interchangeable parts, and I've been really pleased with the ball movement here in the pre-season. There is a lot of potential with this group, and that has made for some really fun practices."

 Owen Jacques returns at point guard after averaging 8.4 ppg last season and will again be handed the keys to Lewis' offense. "Owen came on strong last season (including a season-high 23-point effort in March against Merrimack Valley), and it has carried over into this season," said Lewis.

"He has become a leader for us, and our offense will go through him."

 Forward Max Scopel fills the glue guy role, a vocal defender who grabbed 18 rebounds in the Bobcats' semifinal loss to Sanborn. "He plays bigger than someone who is 6'1," said Lewis. "He sets a tone for us on both ends of the floor."

 Lewis calls 6'2 junior Ryland Sweatt, who is expected to step into the starting lineup, one of the team's most improved players. "Ryland is a sponge; he is always working to get better, and he is as coachable a player as I have," said Lewis. "He has a lot of potential and is going to have a good season for us."

 Shooting guard Will Jernigan, Matthew's younger brother, is also expected to be in the lineup from day one ("He can knock down shots and is playing with a lot of confidence right now," said Lewis), along with 6'3 CJ Lund and sophomore Aaron Clough.

"The pieces fit with this group, and we are ahead of where I thought we'd be at this point," said Lewis. "We are going to focus on getting better and coming together as a team. The goal is to be a tough out again once we get to March."

 The Coe Brown Bears graduated all five starters from their quarterfinal team of a year ago, leaving head coach David Smith with one proven scorer and a group of players from a good JV team stepping into more prominent roles.

 "This is a new group, so it will take a little while, but it's a good group, and I'm optimistic we are going to be competitive again this season," said the Hall of Fame head coach.

 Junior shooting guard Grant Hayes looks poised for a breakout season after averaging 8.9 points per game last season, highlighted by a 21-point effort against Pembroke Academy in February.

"Grant is a good player who has shown he's a capable scorer," said Smith. "He's working to improve his defense and will be a key player for us this season."

 Sophomore Grady Mulligan saw playing time last season and will take on a larger role this season. "Both Grady and Grant are capable of handling the ball for us and being a threat out on the wing," said Smith.

 Forward Carson Fowler and point guard Oliver Ford are both expected to contribute, and will be joined in a new-look rotation by Colby Taylor, Quinn Purrington, and Istvan Miko.

"The focus right now is on our defense; we need to be better, but that will come with time and experience," said Smith. 

 The Souhegan Sabers will aim to build a defensive identity as they return to the playoffs behind their all-state guard and a solid nucleus of returners.

“ We have a lot of seniors but not a ton of experience,” said longtime head coach Peter Pierce. “ We have a good core group and players who have been in the program stepping into more significant roles.”

 Weston Hickman returns after averaging 14.6 points per game last season and has the complete confidence of his head coach. “ He’s battled injuries in the past but has come into this season ready to go,” said Pierce. “ He will be the focal point of our offense, and I expect him to play at an all-state level.”

 Forward Sean Zerega (6.2 ppg.) returns to the starting lineup and will be joined by Joe Mayo, who should give the Sabers a shooter on the perimeter, and point guard Evan Bernascomi.

“ Sean is a very good athlete who is going to help us in a few different ways,” said Pierce. “ Evan has played well at the point for us and is part of a good group of guards.”

 Gus Stephenson and sophomore Matt Styles will join Bernascomi in the backcourt. They will be joined in the rotation by Syrus Delsahd, Matt Nowack, Jon Bausha, and Owen Keough, all of whom are expected to contribute.

“We should be a better team defensively,” said Pierce. “ We had a good JV team, so we’ll have a group of underclassmen pushing the seniors for minutes. That kind of competition in practice will make us a better team.”

 It was quite a ride for the Sanborn Indians, who advanced to their first Division II championship game in school history before falling to Pembroke Academy 63-54.

 Eight seniors graduated from that team, including the all-state duo of Zach Frizzell and Dylan Rego. 

 With one starter back and only two seniors on the roster, Wayne Souther's team will have a new look but the same frenetic style. " We want to be a very aggressive on the ball defensive team," said Souther. 

"Where we had two elite scorers who created a lot of their offense, we will do it more with motion and finding the open man this season."

 Jesse Cavallo, who emerged as one of the Indians ' most valuable players during the tourney run, will now take on a lead role as a junior. " Jesse sets the tone for us and has as quick hands as any player in our division," said Souther.

 " He is going to have the ball in his hands a lot more this season as we are really going to lean on him."

 Julien Brogna, who battled injuries at the end of last season, gives Sanborn a three and a D wing, while Brian Nadeau also has the potential to be an elite defender.

 " You adjust to the players you have, and we have a group that can really cause havoc defensively," said Souther.

 Sophomore Tyler Rego, the younger brother of Dylan, has grown and will step into the lineup from day one. " He is a pure shooter," said Souther. " It looks good every time it leaves his hand."

 Newcomer Connor Mazzaglia, another athlete who can handle the ball and defend, is expected to contribute immediately for the Indians.

 " We have players who are chomping at the bit for their turn to show what they can do," said Souther. " It will take some time, but I'm very confident that by the second half of the season, we can be."

 A year after losing six games by six points or less, the Lebanon Raiders are ready to turn the corner with all but two players returning to the roster.

" We have a good group back, and these are players who have been with me for three seasons, so they understand the expectations and what we are running on both ends of the floor," said head coach Blendon Salls.

" Now it's about getting over the hump."

 Nymah Billings returns to the starting lineup, giving Salls a slasher who can get to the rim and defend at a high level. " He has looked really good over the off-season, and I'm excited for the season he is going to have," said Salls. "He's going to be a big part of our offense."

 Combo guard Myles Saunders will have an increased offensive role this season, while 6'3 junior Liam Sullivan will have the opportunity to contribute immediately. " Liam has a ton of potential and good size at the forward spot," said Salls

 Eliot Brandis will run the point for the Raiders offense after battling injuries last season. " Eliot is a natural point guard and has a good understanding of where the ball needs to go in the offense," said Salls.

  Joining him in the rotation will be fellow point guard Nate Crane, Tyler Reaney, and Chris Massure.

" This is a fun group to coach, and they want to prove themselves after a tough season a year ago," said Salls. " We are excited to compete."

 Former Division I head coach Jim Migneault, who won a title with Bishop Guertin in 2011, takes over at Con Val, where the first order of business is picking up the offensive pace.

"We are going to be more aggressive defensively and look to really control the pace, a faster pace," said Migneault. 

 6'2 all-state guard Max Cail returns after averaging 14.0 points per game last season. "Max is going to play the point for us," said Migneault. "We want him playing at a quicker pace but under control. We need to win the turnover battle, and having Max's experience in the backcourt should help us there."

 Center Keith Whitney returns to the rotation along with Anthony Gutwein, coming off a very good season with the soccer team. "We have good athletes and a lot of two and three-sport standouts," said Migneault.

 The Cougars have a strong nucleus from last year's JV team, all ready to step in and play immediately. Henry Taylor, Evan Lyons, Brayden Boice, and Max Erickson are all expected to contribute.

"There has been a lot of teaching going on, and the kids have been really receptive to it," said Migneault. "I'm happy to be coaching at the high school level again (after being a college assistant at Rivier College)."

"This is a great basketball community, and I'm focused on this team getting back to the tournament and playing its best basketball at the end of the season."

  Former 1,000-point scorer Ryan Emerson takes over at Milford, where the Spartans hope a solid group of underclassmen can lead them back to the playoffs.

“ We are going to be young, and we lack size,” said Emerson. “ What we do have is athletes who can get out and pressure you on the floor. Ideally, we have four players a night scoring in double figures. If we have that kind of balance across the lineup, we have a chance to really compete.”

 Point guard Tyler Constable returns after averaging 8.8 ppg last season and being one of the top defensive guards in the division. “ Tyler is a great competitor and has really improved,” said Emerson. “ He got in the gym and put up shots so that he’s a threat at the top of the key.”

 Alex Butterfield will provide much-needed defense and rebounding, while Emerson has a lot of confidence in all-state track standout Ethan Morin. “Ethan is an elite high jumper, and that is going to come in handy around the glass this winter.”

 6’2 freshman Ben Emerson is coming off a strong summer with the team and is also expected to contribute immediately.

“ I’ve coached just about all the players at the youth level, so it has been a smooth adjustment since taking over,” said Emerson. “ It’s a dream come true to take over at my alma mater, and this is where I want to be long term,” said Emerson.

“ It will take patience, but I am confident in the team that we can become.”

 The Laconia Sachems, who will be moving down to Division III next season, will look to bounce back from a four-win season behind a junior-heavy group of returners.

"We had a lot of sophomores playing crunch time minutes, and we struggled to close out games," said longtime head coach Steve McDonough. "We lost our two leading scorers from that team, but have a good group coming back that has a lot of potential."

 Point guard Brendan Dee returns to run the Sachems' offense ("He's fearless and really creative with the basketball," said McDonough. "He's a very good athlete who loves to compete.”) and will be joined in the backcourt by Carter Jones and Wady Minaya.

"Carter is just a solid player for us; he does all the little things that help you win games," said McDonough. "There isn't a team in the state that wouldn't want him on their roster."

"Wady is a three-year varsity player who might be our best defensive player."

 Kyle Cameron gives the Sachems a scorer who can get to the rim, while forward Sean O'Sullivan will provide rebounding and defense in the paint.

 Freshman Keegan Connelly had a very good off-season with the team and looks poised to contribute right away at the guard spot. "He's come in with a lot of confidence," said McDonough. "He's going to be a good one for us."

 Jayden Marrero and Ivan Mann are both expected to be in the Sachems' rotation as well.

"We have always had bigs to run the offense through so that we will have a bit of a different look offensively," said McDonough. "Our focus is on being very good defensively and a tough team to go up against."

 If you were starting a high school basketball team your first pick would be an all-state point guard you can hand the ball to on every possession.

 Well, Kingswood head coach Joe Faragher has one of the best guards in Division II, and in 2026, he hopes his Knights have a team that could surprise teams come tournament time.

“ Brady (Moulton) is a player any coach would want on his team. We’ll go as he goes,” said Faragher.

 Moulton returns after ranking sixth in Division II scoring at 16.5 points per game. “ He’s a three-sport athlete, so he sets a great tone with his competitiveness,” said Faragher.

 Thomas Benker gives the Knights a defender who can stretch the defense on the perimeter with his ability to knock down shots. At the same time, Kolby Brown and Kevin Hayes return to the rotation and are expected to contribute immediately.

 Corbyn Owens and all-state football standout Serafin Agramonte are also expected to contribute for a Knights team looking to return to the playoffs.

“ We have eight players who have experience from last season,” said Faragher. “ We want to come together as a group and play our best basketball of the season late in the season.”

 The John Stark Generals will go with the youth movement this season after the graduation of four starters and the departure of their leading scorer to Bedford.

" I love this group, they really come into practices focused and ready to work," said longtime head coach Mike Smith. " We are going to struggle at times, it will take time to develop, but we have a good group for the years to come."

 Avery Grolljahn earned minutes last season and has assumed a leadership role with the Generals. " Avery is a very good athlete; he's coming off an all-state soccer season," said Smith. " He has really improved and should have a good season for us."

 Carter Geaumont will run the Generals' offense at point guard ("He has a very high basketball IQ," said Smith) and will be joined in the lineup by sophomore Desmond Bogle, who is among the most improved players on the team.

" Desmond could have played more last season, but he was behind seniors," said Smith. " He is a good athlete who has shown in flashes that he could be a very good player for us."

" We are focusing on forming an identity as a team," said Smith. " It'll take time, but I like the effort and attitude of the group here in the pre-season."

 The Plymouth Bobcats will look to bounce back from an 0-18 season behind a new look lineup that features five seniors but no juniors.

“ We have a good group of freshmen and sophomores,” said second-year head coach Gavin Brickley. “ We have (former head coaches) Mike Sullivan and Ben Cronin coaching at the youth level, so we are working to build the program from the ground up.”

 6’3 forward Turner Oldenberg returns after averaging 10.9 points per game last season. “ Turner is playing well,” said Brickley. “ He’s taken the next step in his development and will be a real key for us this season.”

 Joining Oldenberg upfront will be 6’6 Isaac Benton, 6’4 Lucas Perkins & and Eli Ibarguen. “Isaac has come back stronger, and we will play him out of the high post where he can create,” said Brickley.

 Freshman point guard Braden Guay has had a strong pre-season and is expected to contribute right away (“Braden has a lot of potential,” said Brickley. “ He has fit right in and is going to play a role for us.”) while Braeden McCoil and Amitai Metwaly will join him in the rotation.”

“ We are almost a completely different team than last season,” said Brickley. “ We may take a few lumps early, but this is a hard-working group, and we are headed in the right direction.”

 The Bishop Brady Giants will look to bounce back from a 3-15 season behind their all-state guard and new head coach.

 Bill Duffy takes over after working with the Concord Christian basketball program. “ It’s a good group, and as you would expect, there is an adjustment period with a new head coach and a brand new system,” said Duffy.

 “ The focus is on defense first, and the goal is to come together as a group,” said Duffy. “ We have a balanced lineup and one of the best guards in the division.”

 That all-state guard is Ryan Casey, who finished fourth among all Division II scorers at 18.5 points per game last season. “ Ryan is a three-level scorer who we are going to use both out in the perimeter and on the block,” said Duffy. “ He is a team player and is working to make us better as a team.”

 Alex Pelletier returns at point guard and will be joined in the backcourt by Josh Jeto. “ Josh handles the ball well and has played well here in the pre-season,” said Duffy. “ He just lacks experience.”

 “ We have six seniors on the roster and players battling for minutes, so that has led to good practices,” said Duffy. “ We will be balanced across the lineup, and the goal is to get back into the tournament.”

 

 Pre-Season First Team All-State

 Alton Williams of Hollis Brookline

 Brady Hegan of Pelham

 Andrew Fitzgerald of Pembroke Academy

 Roy Lucas of Hanover

 Max Houde of Manchester West

 

 Second Team

 Brady Moulton of Kingswood

 Peyton Larrabee of Bow

 Jesse Cavallo of Sanborn

 Weston Hickman of Souhegan

 Ethan Dukette of Merrimack Valley

 With apologies to: Max Cail of Con Val, Ryan Casey of Bishop Brady, Bo Noung Jr. of Kennett, Grant Hayes of Coe Brown, Brayden Mariano of Manchester West, Dylan Kelley & James Arthur of Hollis Brookline, Brendan O'Keefe & Ben Reardon of Bow, Tyler Constable of Milford, Owen Jacques of Oyster River, Javien Sinclair of Pembroke, Colin McLaughlin of Hanover and Brady O'Connor & Luke Estell of Pelham.

 

 Coming tomorrow: Division I