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WHEELING -- It's a new year for the Linsly Cadets, which means by-and-large a new group of athletes for head coach Dave Wojcik to work with. It's an exciting challenge for the fifth-year head coach.
"I'm really enjoying this team, they're fun to work with," Wojcik said. "Those are the challenges I like, I like teaching, I like explaining the game, and when you have new guys you have to do that every year so I don't get stale with the same guys every year."
Entering the 2023-24 season, Linsly looks to be improved in multiple areas– starting with their depth, which looks to be a major strength for the Cadets.
"I think we're going to be a lot deeper this year," Wojcik said. "We'll be able to go to 11, 12 guys if we have to, and not miss a beat. Last year I played seven, eight guys, this year I think I'll be able to go to 10, 11, 12 guys."
"This year I think we're looking pretty good," junior D'arrae Goodwin said. "Last year we won 20 games, and every year we're looking to build. I think we have a lot of great depth this year, a lot of new guys who are long, tall and can shoot it."
Goodwin is among a group of key returners for Linsly, players who will anchor the team around a bevy new faces.
"There's a lot of change-over," Wojcik said. "I'm used to that with our team. I have nine new players, but they're talented players, it's just a matter of getting that cohesiveness together. I've got three guys who are returning who played significant minutes. D'Arrae Goodwin, Will Taylor and Jonah Vaysbakh, they should be our leaders. They know what to expect and they should help those new guys come along."
"A lot of our guys, this is their first year here, but I already see us coming together," Goodwin said.
Taylor, a 6-foot-1 junior, and Vaysbakh, a 6-foot-2 senior, should see time at guard while the 6-foot-7 Goodwin sees time at forward.
Amidst the additions for Linsly this year, a common trait is length, athleticism and shooting ability.
"They're defining their roles right now," Wojcik said of his newcomers. "Naseef Lubowa is a talented wing, can really shoot it, can really score the ball all-around. Luka Kecman is a 6-6 guard, he's long, he can get to the basket, can shoot it, he understands and has a good IQ for the game. That's the great thing about all these guys, they understand how to play.
"Uros Petrusic, a 6-9 kid, he's a very skilled kid. When you get those kids from overseas, they're very skilled. He can shoot, pass, dribble, he'll be another one who should step in and help us a little bit."
"Other young men who I'm expecting, local guys, are Adam Gill and Jaxon Murray, who were with me last year, they should contribute right away for us."
Linsly has dotted their schedule with both local rivalries like Wheeling Central, and out-of-area challenges against teams like HA Prep Academy from North Carolina, SPIRE Institute from Geneva, Ohio, Western Reserve Academy in Ohio and Cardinal McGuigan from Ontario, Canada.
"I think the competition we're up against is pretty good," Goodwin said. "But every time we step in-between the lines we're expecting to compete against anybody, no matter who it is."
"There were a lot of games last year that we could've closed out and we didn't," Will Taylor said. "The main goal this year is just winning games."
"Our expectations, one of the things I talk about constantly, is get better today," Wojcik said. "You can't control tomorrow, you can't change yesterday, all you can control is today. I have personal expectations that I've let each guy know about, where I see them and who's doing what."