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CAMERON - While Cameron lost four prominent seniors from last year's West Virginia Class A state qualifier, coach Tom Hart will have three veteran players, four seniors and a lot of youth to help keep the Dragons breathing fire in 2022.
Gone from last year's squad are two-time first-team All-stater, 6 ft. 8 in. Trevor Beresford, now playing at Wheeling University, Chris McCauley, Nathan Haeberle and Connor Powell.
"After graduating four seniors from last year's team we will be a pretty youthful group hitting the hardwood at Dragon Indoor Stadium this year," Hart said. "This may actually be the youngest team we have had here in some time.
"However, I really like the mixture of the younger kids with our veterans and guys that will be moving up the varsity level. I am very excited about this group of kids."
Leading the way will be 6-ft. senior Cole Burkett and 6 ft. 4 in. juniors Lance Hartley and 5-10 Colson Wichterman. Burkett was an honorable mention honoree on the all-state list.
Burkett averaged 11 points, five rebounds and three assists last year while Hartley's sophomore campaign had him at 12.3 points and nearly eight boards a contest and Wichterman added eight points, four assists and four rebounds a night.
"These are three tremendous athletes," Hart added. "Very good basketball players and great young men. They can make this team go and have the ability to make everyone around them better."
Colton Winters, a 6-1 junior, is expected to play a key role with seniors Brayden Marling (5-10), Kade Norris (5-10) and Mason Debolt (5-11) also contributing. Marling is coming off a summer leg injury while Norris is a first-year player. Sophomores Camden Frye (5-11), Mason Scott (5-11) and Cuyler McCauley (5-6) will also be fighting for playing time.
"This group of sophomores may really help us this season," Hart added. "Each one of these guys bring something different to the table that we should be able to utilize."
The remainder of the Dragons roster will include junior Carson Harker (6-5), sophomore Trey Estel (5-8) and freshmen Devlin Otto (5-8), Carter Paczewski (5-9), Ryan Shrack (5-8), Hunter Dobbs (5-5), Collin Magers (6-1), Danny Yoss (6-0), Owen Wright (5-2) and Ike Yoho (5-10).
"We are definitely a young group, and we are still trying to figure out where kids are going to playing with our football players coming in late after another great run, so it could take away to get our chemistry figured out," Hart added.
"But that will all come with time and experience."
Hart will be assisted by Matt Burge, Tim Brown and Logan Burkett.
Cameron will open the campaign with back-to-back home games on Dec. 8-9 against Hundred and Weir High before a six-game road trip that begins by taking on Van at the FCA Hoops Classic at Clay-Battelle.