Boys basketball: Scouting Christian Liberty

Christian LibertyCoach: Jed Bennett

Last year: 11-14 overall

Top returning players: Seniors Tenyu Aikawa (6-5, F), Paul Weiss (6-4, F), Sam Silva (5-8, G), Ben Daniel (5-9, G), Ben Kemper (5-7, G), Luke Merryl (6-3, F)

Top newcomers: Junior Jordan Pratscher (6-3, G), sophomore Mark Cabrera (5-8, G).

Outlook: Chargers coach Jed Bennett is thrilled to welcome back five seniors who saw meaningful playing time last year, and he says the outlook for this season is correspondingly bright. In addition to Aikawa, Weiss, Silva, Daniel and Kemper, senior Luke Merryl rejoins the team after missing last season due to an injured back. "They're really focused," said Bennett. "They're doing all the right things - showing up early, staying late and really working on what they need to work on." Weiss, Aikawaand Merryl will bring some size, but expect a mostly guard-oriented approach. Pratscher saw significant time last year, and Bennett also has high hopes for Cabrera. Add it all up, and the Chargers hope to be in the picture for the Northeastern Athletic Conference title at season's end. Bennett expects Luther North and Westminster Christian to be among the top teams in the league, which boasted last year's Class A champion, Moosheart. "It looks like there will be a little more even-ness to the level of play in the conference," said Bennett, who team finished in the middle of the pack last year. Before the Chargers get going in the NAC, though, they'll have their annual experience against big-school competition at Buffalo Grove. Spare Christian Liberty your pity, though - Bennett relishes the opportunity to play top-notch teams. "It's a nice way to start for us," he said. "Absolutely, the competition's tough. But I know our kids look forward to it, and we always come out of that tournament with some improvement."

- Aaron Gabriel