The beauty of Division I was always in its symmetry. With 19 team teams playing 18 games every team played one another and there were no concerns about someone else having an easy schedule or getting extra points for out of conference games.

 For our annual Bracketology Show, tie-breakers simply came down to head to head match-ups and in 10 years I never once heard a coach complain about their schedule or anyone else's.

 Those were the good old days………..

 “I feel like every time I see another coach we end up talking about our schedules,” said Londonderry head coach Nate Stanton. “That’s certainly new.”

 Some teams play new neighbors Goffstown or Windham twice. Some teams don’t go to the seacoast to play top teams Exeter, Portsmouth & Winnacunnet all year while other teams don’t play rivals right down the highway. “I think there is going to be a little bit of an adjustment for all of us, and as the Division I bracketlogist (for our NH High School Hoop Show on Saturday mornings) I’m happy to let another coach take my place,” joked Winnacunnet head coach Jay McKenna. At least I think he was joking…..

 “At the end of the day, you have to play the teams on your schedule and not concern yourself with anything else.”

 Goffstown, Windham & Timberlane arrive from Division II in what seems like a move done strictly by the book more than creating competitive balance.

 Goffstown won only 3 games in Division II last season while in 4 years in Division II Timberlane made the tournament 3 out of 4 years but never advanced past the first round. Windham has two quarterfinal appearances in Division II since the school opened in 2009.

 Let’s put it this way….I spoke to 19 Division II coaches last week and not once did I hear anyone say “ Man, I’m glad those teams moved up. That just wasn’t fair.”

 Windham I can see, that school is growing and with the resources they have they can compete in Division I. In the case of Timberlane, their wrestling titles on the wall look like something you see hanging from the rafters at a Celtics game and Goffstown is going to struggle to compete in Division I as one of the smallest schools after struggling to be a Top 10 team in the division below.

 The change makes no sense competitively and what we are left with is a year of pointing out that some teams have far easier schedules than others.

 I miss the good old days already.

 In our final pre-season basketball preview we look at every single team in Division I and forecast the 15 tournament teams.

 

 Quick programming note:

 On Monday we will have our first Players Locker Room Performance Re-Cap and those will follow every Monday throughout the winter. Those players are from families who support our team of six (who all have full time jobs & families while we bring you this coverage) as Gold Level & Premium members.

 That list is growing by the day and the list of players will be updated today along with our Gold Level Coaches/Programs listed under the division standings.

 Our Division I coverage begins Tuesday night when Justin McIsaac, Jennifer Chick-Ruth & I will bring you full coverage of Salem at Spaulding.

 Today’s preview is sponsored by our longest running partner (over 10 years of supporting high school sports coverage in New Hampshire) Sentinel Title Services in Rye, NH.

 Mention NHSportspage or this ad when scheduling your closing and receive a $100 off your Settlement Fee!

 

 Division I Predicted Order

1. Winnacunnet
2. Exeter
3. Alvirne
4. Spaulding
5. Portsmouth
6. Salem
7. Concord
8. Bishop Guertin
9. Dover
10. Merrimack
11. Londonderry
12. Manchester Central
13. Bedford
14. Trinity
15. Keene

Lurking outside the Top 15: Manchester Memorial, Pinkerton Academy, Windham, Nashua South, Nashua North, Timberlane & Goffstown

 

  You can’t fake chemistry on the floor and as a coach, you recognize when it’s there & when it’s absent.

 Entering his 14th season as head coach at Winnacunnet Jay McKenna didn't stress the importance of this group coming together over the summer or during a timeout in a fall league. It began on the very same night his team was eliminated by Portsmouth in the quarterfinals.

 “I pulled Ben (Allen) and Jack (Schaake) aside and said ‘This is your team now.’ “They’ve been on teams that worked together and teams that splintered and I put it on them right then & there to make sure we don’t let it happen this year.”

 The results early on have been crystal clear. “I love this group,” said McKenna. “Guys are communicating on the floor, they are supporting each other and Ben & Jack have been great senior leaders.”

 With a starting five on most nights that could be 6’6, 6’5, 6’5, 6’3 and 6’3 the Warriors won’t only be playing as one unit but playing a few inches above your air space. It starts with the 6’5 point guard.

 “Ben is everything a coach could want in a player. He’s a program guy, the needs of the team come before his own and I’m really excited for the year he has ahead of him,” said McKenna. “He has deferred to the older guys in years past. Two years ago it was Freddy (Schaake) and that group, last year it was Zach (Waterhouse) and that group. Now it’s time for him to be a little more selfish because we are going to need him as a scorer. I trust him to make the right decision with the ball. He’s earned that.”

 Jack Schaake is a nightmare match-up, the best back to the basket player in New Hampshire and has the skills that will see him playing at the college level next year. “Jack has worked incredibly hard and put himself in a good position to have a huge year. I think he is one of the best players in the state, hands down,” said McKenna.

 Nick Hepburn is a 6’5 forward who didn’t play last year because of soccer injuries. This year he sat out soccer to be sure he was ready and he introduced himself to the New Hampshire basketball community by amusing himself in lay-up lines in the jamboree last Saturday with any variety of dunk that popped in his head. “Nick is really talented and has a lot of ability. He’s going to step right in and start from Day 1 for us,” said McKenna. “He didn’t play last year so he has some reps he needs to get in real game situations but he’s really going to help us this year.”

 Lucas Schaake, Jack’s younger brother and the third Schaake brother in four years if you’re scoring at home, also will just need reps but is going to step in and play right away. “How quickly can Lucas learn on the fly and improve week to week will be a key,” asks McKenna. “How he develops will be big for us because he’s an exciting player and an important part of the team.”

 Joe LaRosa is coming off a season starting at quarterback for the football team and has had a very good pre-season (“ Joe just gets it, he understands his role and how he can help us win,” said McKenna) while Conor Considine is a defensive specialist who will contribute right away as well.

 James O’Hara is a sophomore who McKenna thinks will be able to provide scoring off the bench. “ In all my years of coaching what has always held true is the team’s that have real leadership amongst themselves tend to end up better than the ones who don’t. I’m excited to see what this group can become.”

 Exeter will come at you in waves and they can beat you any number of ways.

 In 2018-19 Jeff Holmes has 10 players that could start and enough firepower to be the last team standing in March. “We are not your traditional Exeter team where we have a lot of size and your center playing next to your power forward,” said head coach Jeff Holmes. “We are a guard-oriented team that can really attack the basket.”

 Sophomore Josh Morissette returns after an all-state season as a freshman and has improved his passing & ball-handling after a summer playing with BABC out of Boston. “Josh does a lot of things well,” said Holmes. “He has a very high basketball IQ because he’s been around the game his entire life (Josh’s father Dave was the longtime head coach at Rivier University). He can play all five positions on the floor and you don’t find many players like that.”

 “In the jamboree Josh only scored 4 points and I thought he was terrific,” said Holmes. “His passing has been excellent and his court vision is even better than it was a year ago.”

 Forward Kevin Henry might be the most improved player from a year ago and in addition to being a scorer he does whatever the team needs to win. “Kevin can score very well, he’s really athletic and he is willing to do the dirty work to help us win,” said Holmes.

 Forward Ryan Grijalva is set up to have a breakout year. When the junior is in rhythm there are few players better and he showed that in glimpses last season. Between Morissette, Henry & Grijalva the Blue Hawks have as good a trio as any team in the state. “Ryan is set up to really have a great season, he’s improved and ready to take on a big role for us,” said Holmes.

 Cam Clark and Max Rose will handle the ball and each is capable of running the best offense in the state. “I don’t think you’ll see us with set starters. We, like a lot of teams, have sort of a position-less basketball team where guys can play multiple roles.”

 Ethan Imbimbo gives Exeter size & strength in the low post while Jake Ross, who is back after being injured last season, and Mike Leonard will contribute right away. “We are going to utilize our depth and try & wear teams down,” said Holmes.

 If there is a team that can compete with the depth of the Blue Hawks its Alvirne. Second-year head coach Marty Edwards has done a terrific job developing players and putting them in the right positions for a final four or bust run in 2019.

“We have a lot of players ready to contribute and the chemistry has been great,” said Edwards. “This is a different team from a year ago where we looked for Max (Bonney-Liles) when things broke down. Players are a year older and more experienced. They trust each other out on the floor.”

 6’4 forward Joe Canelas is going to be a match-up problem for a lot of teams with his size, skill & athleticism. “He has become a key scorer for us,” said Edwards. “Where I see significant improvement is in his passing. Teams are converging on him and doubling him in the post and he has reacted very well to that.”

 He’s not the Broncos only post-presence. 6’5 junior Paul Manzi is set up for a big year as well. “He’s a tough kid, very versatile and strong with the basketball,” said his head coach. “He gives us a real post-presence.”

 Cole Zimmer has developed into a good point guard for the Broncos and will be joined on the perimeter by Garrett Lambert. “Cole might be the most improved player on our team and he meshes with Garrett very well.”

 Shooting guard Ryan Weston could always stroke it and now his head coach is seeing his evolution as a leader and a defender. “He has picked it up defensively and has become a vocal leader for us,” said Edwards. “He gets on the younger players and is a great leader in that regard.”

 Jamie Bertrand will play multiple positions for the Broncos while both Davonte Mckoy-Sophos and Meshack Mugariri have had good pre-seasons and will contribute right away. “We are sharing the basketball and we have the ability to be very good defensively,” said Edwards. “We go into the season expecting big things.”

 If you try and copyright the phrase ‘You win in March with seniors and good guard play,’ you’re about 30 years too late.

 Doesn’t make it any less true, and in 2019 President Tim Cronin and the Spaulding Red Raiders have a lot of both. “This is it for them, the seniors,” said Cronin, “and you get that feeling at practices. There is a sense of purpose we might have lacked at times last season.”

 It begins with pre-season player of the year Arie Breakfield (so get off my back McIsaac) who at 6’6 can score from anywhere on the floor and has taken on a leadership role in his last go-around. “At the end of every practice I gather the kids in a circle and say whatever I have to say,” said Cronin. “What's new this year is Arie then talks amongst just the players before they break for the end of practice. That’s a very good sign from your seniors.”

 Breakfield is set up for a huge senior year and after losing to Bedford in the final four two years ago the 6’6 forward wants another shot on the big stage. “He’s certainly one of the best players in the state. He’s very skilled and he’s a matured a lot, as a lot of junior do when they become seniors,” said President Cronin. “You see a sense of urgency from him and that carries down to the rest of the team.”

 Keagan Calero is also a three year starter looking to make his senior season a long one. Calero is as good as any guard in the state defensively and has gotten much stronger taking the ball to the rim. “He’s so strong now that when he makes contact with the defender he seems to power through it. Guys have been bouncing off of him.”

 Dante McKenney gives Spaulding a shooter to spread out the defense while Jarod Gooley & Logan Gadbois can knock down shots from the perimeter as well. “We need both of them to be effective for us to balance out our scoring.”

 NHsportspage broadcasters Shane Hudson & Jay Manzi will both contribute. Hudson joins Calero in maybe the best defensive backcourt in the state while Manzi is solid contributor off the bench and a sage veteran presence in the locker room. “Shane is a real leader for us on the defensive end of the floor,” said Cronin. “He sets a tone out there and does whatever you ask of him.”

 Ryan Bernier gives Spaulding a physical presence in the paint for a team that wants to get back to Durham again. “We have the potential to be a very good basketball team. It’ll depend on the kids working together through the entire season,” said Cronin.

 The last name remains the same, the offense won’t change a bit and the defensive philosophy will not change in Portsmouth. So what changes can we expect in 2019?

“I’ll be much better dressed than my dad was,” joked Clippers first-year head coach John Mulvey. “I also don’t yell as much and I’m pretty sure the kids won’t be terrified of me at times.”

 The yelling will be an easy promise to keep, I’m pretty sure in 10 years of knowing him I’ve never seen John raise his voice and the upgrade in coaching attire won’t be difficult to do. Jim Mulvey’s dress shirts remaining tucked-in barely survived the National Anthem.

 In his first season as head coach Mulvey will have a player of the year candidate in Alex Tavares and a very good returning starter in Cal Hewitt. Those two you can count on, it will be the rotation players who fill in around them that will help determine if the 2-time Division I defending champions can get back to Durham.

 Tavares, who will miss the first two games of the season for a rules violation, was as good any player on the floor at Saturday’s Jamboree and his head coach loves what he has seen from his do-everything forward. “He’s playing the best basketball I’ve ever seen him play and I’ve coached him since he came to high school,” said Mulvey. “He is our only senior on the roster and it’s his team to lead. We’ll run a lot through him and besides him probably handling the ball more you won’t see his role change.”

 Cal Hewitt will move over to the point guard spot vacated by the school’s all-time leading scorer Cody Graham who graduated in June. Hewitt will need to score more after being the Clippers glue-guy a year ago. “Cal is such a great kid and he helps us in a lot of ways,” said Mulvey. “He makes good decisions with the ball so we are really comfortable with him at the point.”

 Coleman Brewster will also handle the ball as well while Tommy Degnan gives the Clippers a shooter on the perimeter. Griffin Ritzo will start at center and will need to protect the rim & the glass. “We’re going to ask a lot of him. He’s improving every day and I feel like he’s ready to step up in a bigger role.” Jacob Boutin has been working hard in the pre-season and will step right into the rotation.

 In the end it will come down to how far Tavares takes the team. “We are depending on him to be the leader out on the floor, he and Cal, and we have a lot of confidence as a group. It’s a new team but I like how the guys are working early on,” said Mulvey.

 Rob McLaughlin has had a core group together for three years at Salem, and the goal from Day 1 is a trip to Durham in March. “The energy has been terrific with this group. You’re seeing it come together between playing in the fall and our practices early on,” said McLaughlin. “I like what I’ve seen,”

 It starts in the backcourt where the Blue Devils will have one of the better duos in the division in Trevor DeMinico & Zack Caraballo. “They are a great tandem and they play well off each other,” said McLaughlin. “Zack has been really good getting to the rim and you’re seeing Trevor getting more comfortable out there.”

 6’3 Kyle Poulin owns an old man game according to his head coach and gives the Blue Devils a true post presence. 6’5 Ben Laycock gives Salem a rim protector for the back end of their pressure defense. “You can apply so much more pressure out front when you have someone behind you protecting the paint and that’s what Ben gives us.”

 Tim Spampinato gives Salem a shooter off the bench while brothers James (“He’s a great team first guy for us and gives us another banger in the post,” said McLaughlin) and Mike (“He’s an energy guy off our bench who is really going to contribute.”) Ference will both play right away.

 “This is a very unselfish group,” said McLaughlin. “We’re going to pressure you for 32 minutes and get after it. I’m excited to see what this group can accomplish.”

 Dave Chase has been building the Concord basketball program back up after coming over from a very successful tenure at Hopkinton. The Tide just missed out on the tournament a year ago but likely won’t have to worry when the brackets are announced in March. “We have 62% of our scoring back from last year and the kids in the program have played together long enough now where we expect to compete in every game on the schedule,” said Chase. “We have a playoff drought we want to break this year and there’s no reason we can’t do it.”

 6’3 Tyler Bruns is set up for a big senior season. “I told him, it’s your team and we will go as he goes,” said Chase. “I feel like he’s ready for the challenge.” Bruns gives Concord a scoring forward while Scott Lampron gives them a knockdown shooter on the wing. “I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people this season,” predicted Chase. “He’s gained 20 lbs. from last year and is playing with a lot of confidence.”

 Ryan Canabano did a good job running the Concord offense a year ago before an illness forced him to miss the last 6 games of the season. “He handles pressure well and is very good at distributing the ball to our shooters.”

 Chase feels like 6’6 John Shamash was forced into action last year before he was ready but a lot of hard work and newfound confidence has the center in the middle of the Tide defense. “We need him to rebound for us and protect the rim. He’s worked hard to get to this point.”

 To get back to the tournament Concord needs to turn close losses into big wins, and Chase for one thinks they are ready to turn the corner. “Until you learn to win you’re always going to find a way to lose,” said Chase. “This is a group that needs to prove it but I feel like we’re ready.”

 All you had to do was watch the Bishop Guertin bench during Saturday’s Jamboree to see Matt Regan was building something as he enters his 3rd year as head coach.

 BG was up on every made basket and defensive play in a close win over Mascenic Regional. Regan has the talent to pressure you and score from all over the floor plus the numbers to wear you down over four quarters.

“We don’t have a true go-to guy but we have a lot of players that are going to score for us and I like it that way. I’m not worried right now about wins; those will come if we work hard and come together as a team. That’s been the theme of the pre-season and the kids have been great,” said Regan one day after a team outing of laser tag.

 Austin Hiscoe gives BG a deep threat who will extend defenses past the three-point line. “He was our leading scorer a year ago and he’s someone who we know will step up and make a play when we need it. He’s a tremendous athlete,” said Regan.

 Sam Mullet is another player who has gained the confidence of his head coach. “He fits in perfectly with what we are trying to do, on both ends of the court,” said Regan. Kyle Baker is another elite athlete who gives the Cardinals a physical presence in the paint. “Kyle is a selfless player who does whatever you need him to do to help you win.”

 Andrew Arika might be the biggest surprise of the off-season (“He has worked really hard and it’s paying off,” said Regan) while sophomore Joey DaSilva is a future star in the program. “Joey is the guy that makes the engine run. He has a very high basketball IQ and has made a big jump in the last year,” said his head coach. “You’re talking about a kid who has been elite since 4th grade.”

 6’5 Max Matarazzo put on a shooting display in the Jamboree and will contribute from Day 1 along with Davis Camacho & Mason Carroll. You have to go pretty deep down the bench to find a player Regan doesn’t have a lot of confidence in.

 All of which adds up to a move up the standings after missing the tournament a year ago. “If we come together as one unit and as great teammates we can be very good this season.”

 Every single year in almost every division there is a team labeled as ‘The team no one wants to face’ and truth be told 80% of the time they go out quietly in the first round.

 Well, last year Dover was that team when the Division I brackets were announced, and they took three good basketball teams out before falling to Portsmouth in a terrific championship game.

 Key players have graduated (I’m going to miss yelling CANTWELL!!) but the cupboard is hardly bare as four of the top eight players from last season return. “We’ve made it clear from Day 1, that was last year and this is a new team altogether,” said 3rd-year head coach Matt Fennessy.

“We have four rotation players back but they rarely were on the floor at the same time together. There is a lot of reps that need to be played out before you get the comfort level that last years group had but certainly I think we can get there.”

 It all starts with all-state guard Ty Vitko, who now takes over leadership of the team. When I talked to Division I coaches about Vitko throughout the season last year some raved about him while others didn’t feel like he made much of an impression.

 If Dover is going to make another run that will have to change and with the scoring falling on him as opposed to a group effort a year ago, you can expect that it will.

“Everything goes through Ty and he’s a better player than he was a year ago,” said Fennessy. “He’s worked on weaknesses in his game and become a better passer. I think he’s going to have a great season for us.”

 6’3 Kingsley Breen returns after leaving the team in the last half of the 2018 season. Breen will play the point, giving the Green Wave great size in the backcourt. “Kingsley sees the floor really well. He’s shown glimpses, we just want to see it consistently.”

 Willem Federico was a key reserve a year ago and will start from Day 1 as a senior while Griffin Carloni hit a pair of huge 3’s against Exeter in last year’s semifinal upset and will step into a bigger role this season.

 The Achilles Heel of Dover a year ago throughout the regular season was their defense and at least in early December, their head coach feels like it remains an issue. “We need to commit as much effort to our defense as we do our offense,” said Fennessy. “I’m not worried about our scoring; we need to become better on the other end of the floor.”

 You tell me Tim Goodridge has a team at Merrimack that has athletes, size, and players who will absolutely defend…then I’m absolutely on board with that team.

 “I really like this group of kids, they work very hard and they’re doing everything we ask of them as coaches,” said Goodridge of his 2018-19 team. “We also have a chance to be pretty good defensively.”

 I think I’m on board with this team.

 Jared Dyer sets a tone and at 6’5 and coming off an all-state football season it’s a very imposing tone. “He’s a beast,” says his head coach. “He is really going to be tough to stop inside and he’s willing to work. I’ve coached a lot of great kids in my time but he’s one of the best to come through here.”

 Very high praise indeed. 6’5 Patrick Yudkin may be the surprise player coming out of the pre-season.  His head coach feels like he has an impact player at forward. “Patrick can shoot it, take it to the hoop and just has been a real nice surprise for us.”

 Ben Eichman is also coming off a terrific football season and is ready for a breakout season at guard. “You can see he’s playing with more confidence,” said Goodridge. “I like what we’ve seen from him in the pre-season.”

 Adam Ellis returns to the backcourt with more confidence & size after he was moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore. He’ll be joined by 6’3 guard JJ Martinez in the backcourt. “JJ is way ahead of where he was at this time last year and Adam has looked good in the pre-season as well.”

 6’4 Cody Pfeiffer has impressed his head coach with his work ethic and plays with an intensity that seems to be contagious. “We have the athletes and from what I’ve seen we are going to play hard,” said Goodridge. “Will we be able to score enough to compete with the best teams in the state out on the seacoast? That’s what we need to find out.”

 Londonderry head coach Nate Stanton has a good group of sophomores around talented senior forward Ethan May. How that group develops this season will tell you a lot about how far the Lancers go in 2019. “This is the youngest group I’ve ever had but I really like the way they work and the attitudes they bring to practice every day.”

 Ethan May will miss the first two games of the season for a rules violation but will be an immediate difference maker when he gets back. “He’s had an unbelievable off-season and his game has really come a long way,” said Stanton. “I think he is set up to have a really big year for us.”

 Cole Keegan is a 6’3 forward coming off a good football season. Keegan can fill a few different roles on the floor for the Lancers and will be joined in the rotation by Zack Fawcett and a group of five sophomores who will all see playing time.

 Dean Haggett, Jackson Cox and Luke Marsh are three underclassman who will step right in and play. “You’re starting to see some chemistry building on the floor but we need to get reps when the games start to count next week,” said Stanton. “You hope the confidence starts to grow week to week.”

 After coaching Campbell to the Division III title game a year ago Sudi Lett left to take over at his alma mater when Dave Keefe stepped down as the Manchester Central head coach after leading the team to a final four appearance.

 There are a lot of new faces for the Little Green but Lett will get his team out in transition and up in your face on defense. “I’ll be focusing on building our defensive identity. We want to be disruptive defensively to ignite our transition offense,” said Lett.

 Junior Dede Niyang is set up to have a big season while sophomore Sam Kodi & senior Daniel Infante will contribute right away as well. “(we want to) emphasize proper spacing which will allow scoring opportunities for players to create for teammates and themselves,” said Lett.

 There will be a lot of familiar names in new places when Bedford rolls out four new starters from last years team. “We have a lot of kids who just won the championship in football and that confidence has carried over,” said Bulldogs head Coach Mark Elmendorf.

 Quarterback Thomas Morgan will again lead the Bedford offense from the point guard spot and may be the most improved player from a year ago. “You’re talking about a player who between his junior & senior year has improved dramatically,” said Elmendorf. “He’s become a real leader for us.”

 Harry LeGoullon gives Bedford a power forward who can create his own offense with his rebounding and has a chance to become a very good defender. “He’s a kid who is so strong and gets after it every day. Those kinds of players set a tone for the entire team.”

 Tim Greene and Zach Guerin, who joined the team after some coaxing from his football teammates, give Elmendorf a pair of physical forwards who will not get overmatched on the low block. “Zach has been great, he adds a lot of depth while Tim just gets after it and is a very smart basketball player.”

 Guard Connor Butts will step right into the rotation for a team Elmendorf likes the potential of. “There is a very good vibe with this group and they work together so well because of their experience on the football field. We want to build on that.”

  In his second season as head coach at Trinity Jim Migneault has a team ready to compete for the post-season after a fast rebuild. “We have size and we’re athletic as well,” said Migneault. “We can play at either a faster pace or in the half-court so I’m very happy with the group we have.”

 6’6 Athiei Bol will return to the Pioneers frontcourt along with 6’5 Foster Stacy and 6’3 Joe Constant. “That group now has some good experience together and they are really coming together,” said their head coach.

 Luke Duffley and Ethan Frenette will give Trinity weapons on the perimeter while Mike George has had a good pre-season and will play right away. “We have very good chemistry with this group and at the end of the season you could see we were starting to find ways to win games,” said Migneault. “I expect us to compete from day one this season.”

 Kevin Ritter’s Keene Blackbirds took their lumps a year ago but with many of their key players back it’s finally time for a playoff run in 2019. “This group has played a lot of basketball together and they want to take the next step,” said Ritter of his team. “The goal is to get back into the tournament in March.”

 Tate Matte gives Keene a point guard capable of running the offense and handling defensive pressure. “He’s a true point guard and he gives you a little bit of everything as a player. He’s a kid we depend on,” said Ritter.

 Shooting guard Liam Johnston may have the highest basketball IQ on the team. He is a very good passer who sees the floor well and can knockdown shots on the perimeter. “Liam has really good instincts on both ends of the floor and understands what we are trying to do.”

 Shooting guard Noah Timmer also returns to the starting lineup and is joined by 6’5 center Alex Opsahl. “Alex is important for us in that we are going to need him to protect the rim and rebound for us.”

 David Erunski gives Ritter another player who can rebound and move people around in the paint. “We weren’t able to finish out games a year ago and I think a lot of that comes with experience,” said Ritter of his young team a year ago. “We should be able to handle end of game situations better this season.”

  Manchester Memorial graduated 9 seniors off of a 13-5 team of a year ago. A year later second-year head coach Danny Bryson is rebuilding around a very young group but doesn’t think the Crusaders will be down for long.

“We really don’t return anyone who played varsity minutes so it is a completely new team,” said Bryson. “But we have a really good group in the gym every day and the kids are really getting after it. There is playing time up for grabs and that brings out a lot of competition.”

 Julius Hodge and Jack Fitzgerald should step into scoring roles for the Crusaders while freshman Deng Akok will also play right away. “With the group I had last year I wasn’t going to come in with 9 seniors and change anything drastically,” said Bryson. “With this group I can start to bring some subtle changes to what we are going to run.”

 Evan Clark, Christian Sebo and Alex McGandy will all get their chance to contribute right away for a team that still needs time to gel. “We need to learn to score off of passing and movement rather than guys just creating their own shots. When we begin to do that we’ll see progress.”

 Pinkerton Academy has been hit hard by players leaving for a prep school in recent years so it seemed only fair prep schools sent a player back to the Astros.

 All-state forward Jay Reynolds, who in the last three years has played for Exeter, Pinkerton and at a prep school, returns to the fold and will make an immediate impact for Peter Rosinski’s team.

 “Jay has always been a very good player but with experience he’s also become a very smart one too,” said Rosinski. “He has played very well and we are happy to have him back.”

 Nick Masucci gives the Astros a threat on the perimeter while 6’4 Thomas Hickey & 6’5 Michael Packowski give Pinkerton size in the paint. “We have more size than we did a year ago,” said Rosinski. “That will allow us to be aggressive defensively with the ability to protect the rim.”

 “The chemistry with this group is really good,” said the Astros longtime head coach. “I think as we come together we will surprise some people this season.”

 EJ Perry returns to New Hampshire basketball after coaching stints in Massachusetts. Last spring he was chosen by Windham athletic director Bill Raycraft to lead the basketball team in their move up to Division I.

 Perry won titles at Salem a decade ago and knows exactly what it takes to win. The Jaguars might take some time to compete for a title but the work to get there has already begun. “The kids are excited about the opportunity to compete against the best teams in the state,” said Perry. “The football and field hockey teams did really well in the fall so we feel like we’re going to be ready to go as well when we start playing next week.”

 Riley Desmarais will run the offense for Perry and has the ability to score as well as distribute the ball. “He has really improved greatly in the short time I’ve been coaching him. He is one of those kids who comes in every day ready to go.”

 Windham has a pair of shooting guards in Matt Logue & John Kane who will be contributors on the perimeter. Logue is a hard-nosed defender while Kane gives Perry a shooter that can stretch the defense.

 Luke Schamm at 6’4 gives Windham some size down low along with Cole Flenniken.

 “We had 60 players come out for basketball and kept 44 in the program so the numbers have been terrific and there is great energy inside the program,” said Perry. “We’re excited to get after it.”

 Nashua South made a surprise run to the quarterfinals last March and gave Manchester Central everything they could handle in the quarterfinals. Head coach Nate Mazerolle saw 9 seniors graduate from that team and now will rebuild with a good young nucleus.

 “We’re still figuring out what we have as a team and injuries have slowed that down in the pre-season,” said Mazerolle, who has had four players injured already in the pre-season. “We have a lot of players fighting for playing time so that creates some pretty competitive practices.”

 6’4 Stav Alkalay will start in the frontcourt alongside 6’4 forward Andrew Moody while Ivan Nyantenji will get the keys to the Purple Panthers offense. “I like the positional balance of the group we have,” said Mazerolle. “It’s about getting reps together in game situations.”

 Cody Rocheleau and Casey McNally will play right away in the backcourt while freshman Jeremiah Mitchell and 6’4 Andrew Penkala will step right in after not playing a year ago. “It’s rare that we have freshman playing but we may have two on our roster this season in Jeremiah and Alex Hulfachor,” said Mazerolle. “They are all going to get their opportunity.”

 It’s a similar youth movement down the road at Nashua North where head coach Steve Lane has a very talented young group looking to take a step up in 2019. “It’s a really fun group to coach and for us it’s about learning how to win with a group that doesn’t have a ton of experience,” said Lane.

 Sophomore Curtis Harris is a big-time underclassman who just came off a huge season on the football field. “He’s a super kid and he’s getting better all the time. Sky is the limit as far as his potential. His ability to get to the rim will be a key for our offense.”

 6’3 senior forward Brendan Choate could have a breakout year while sophomore Nate Kane will step into the starting lineup as part of the Titans young group. “We scrimmaged Salem earlier this week and you could see the young players getting overwhelmed with the speed of play. They were exhausted after about three minutes on the floor,” said Lane. “That’s what we need to get past so that we can play our style and get back to dictating the pace of the game.”

 It will be a struggle at times for Timberlane in Division I unless a wrestling match breaks out but head coach Jeff Baumann likes the group he’s working with every day and sees the potential for success at the higher level. “This is the youngest group I’ve ever had. We graduated seven seniors off last years team so there are a lot of jobs up for grabs.”

 Calvin Geisler will run the point for the Owls and it’s a role he’s ready to take on. “He’s very comfortable handling the ball and he has stepped up into a leadership role, which you like to see from your point guard.”

  Bob Olson is a 6’3 sophomore who will be looked upon to provide shooting from the outside while Cam Ross is coming off an all-state soccer season and should help on the defensive end.

 The team is made up mostly of juniors and that is the group Baumann wants to see take the next step in their new division. “I want to set the tone where we are going to work hard every day and play hard every game. If we make progress and are competing as the season goes along then you have something to really build on,” said Baumann. “This is a group that can set the tone for the program going forward.”

 When he was finishing up college at Virginia Tech a few years ago Ryan Cowette could not have imagined the challenge his first head coaching job would bring him.

 How about bringing a team that won 3 games in Division II up a level to compete with the best teams in the state? “I’d call it a challenge, no doubt,” said Cowette, who takes over at Goffstown for Mike Gasper after coaching the JVs a year ago. “For us the key is doing things the right way and building a basketball culture here.”

 Connor Hujsak leads a group of returnees that includes Myles Green, Derek Steckowych and Jack Kelly. “It’s going to take us some time to come together,” said Cowette. “We only had three players who played AAU or summer basketball so you have a lot that has to come together in a short amount of time.”

 Colby Putnam will give the Grizzlies a rebounder down low while Clay Campbell is a senior that will contribute right away. “If we work hard and work together we’re going to be a much better team at the end of the season than we are today,” said the first year head coach. “That’s my focus right now with this group.”

 

 

Pre-Season Player of the Year

 Arie Breakfield of Spaulding

 

 Pre-season First Team All-State

 Arie Breakfield of Spaulding

 Alex Tavares of Portsmouth

 Jack Schaake of Winnacunnet

 Ty Vitko of Dover

 Josh Morissette of Exeter

 

 Second Team

 Ben Allen of Winnacunnet

 Trevor DeMinico of Salem

 Joe Canelas of Alvirne

 Kevin Henry of Exeter

 Tyler Bruns of Concord

 

 Players to watch: Ryan Grijalva of Exeter, Ethan May of Londonderry, Jay Reynolds of Pinkerton, Dede Niyang of Manchester Central, Keagan Calero of Spaulding, Paul Manzi of Alvirne, Austin Hiscoe of Bishop Guertin, Zack Caraballo of Salem, Tate Matte of Keene, Jared Dyer & Patrick Yudkin of Merrimack, Curtis Harris of Nashua North and Cal Hewitt of Portsmouth.

 

 Listen LIVE to the New Hampshire High School Hoop Show Saturday morning from 9 to 10 am as Pete Tarrier & I will re-cap every single game from the Friday night schedule

 You can listen by clicking the listen live link right on our homepage or on 99.9 FM & 1370 WFEA radio in the Manchester area Saturday morning.