Basketball Preview 2016

Everything New for Tucker, Knights

2 min read

By MIKE MATHISON

TORONTO -- The Toronto boys' basketball team will have a new look this year.

New coach, attitude, look and approach.

"The boys realize we are going to be patient with them in this transition of programs as they are learning a completely different style of basketball and they are adjusting very well," first-year coach Sean Tucker said. "We look for a lot of roles this year coming off the bench. The great thing about this team is it doesn't matter who starts because they all have great roles coming off the bench."

The Red Knights, who were 16-8 last season, will be led by their two seniors -- Ty West and Santee Carducci.

"We look for a lot of leadership out of them in our new transition of programs," Tucker said.

Toronto also has juniors Jake Keenan, Nolan Clegg and Zach Gulczynski, sophomores Nate Karaffa, Trillion West, Kobe Herrick and Nick Sninchak, and freshman Lucas Gulczynski.

"We are suffering a couple of football injuries right now which we still have to evaluate those players as they return to figure out the roles they must play," Tucker said.

"We are looking forward to see players like Ty West, Jake Keenan and Nate Karaffa emerge into great outside shooters to add to their game as players who can get to the rim.

"The boys have been getting after it in practice and pushing one another in drills. They have been taking a lot of information in and responding to the change very well. This group, once they mold into the roles we give them, are going to be fun to watch.

"Toronto graduated some good basketball players that normally would leave programs with big shoes to fill. But with this group it is more of a next man up. They are willing to step into new roles and make each teammate better."

West was an Eastern District third-team selection with his 10.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Keenan and Karaffa were honorable-mention choices.

Lost to graduation were the school's all-time leading scorer in Blaze Glenn, along with Blaine Rawson, Hank Clegg and Riley Keirsey.

Starting at /week.