Scouting Burlington Central boys basketball

Burlington Central Rockets

Coach: Brett Porto (second year, 13-14)

Conference: Big Northern (East)

2009-10 record: 13-14 (7-3 BNE), lost to Sycamore in a Class 3A regional play-in game

Top returning players: Thomas Fitzgerald (Sr., 6-2 F), Ray Hunnicutt (Jr., 5-11 G), Sam Klein (Sr., 6-2 G/F), Jared Moxness (Sr., 5-11 G), Michael Parker (Sr., 6-2 F), Tim Sullivan (Sr., 6-0 G), Brandon Westergaard (Sr., 5-10 F)

Top newcomers: Clint Creal (Jr., 6-2 F), Mason Creal (Jr., 5-11 G), Luke Fleming (Sr., 5-11 G/F), Cullen Lange (Jr., 5-11 G), Joel Lopez (So., 6-1 F), Ryan Ritchie (So., 5-11 G), Travis Stockbridge (Jr., 6-2 F)

Season outlook: Scoring shouldn't be a problem for the fast-breaking Rockets. Central returns its two leading scorers from a year ago: Ray Hunnicutt and Sam Klein. Hunnicutt, a talented junior guard entering his third varsity season, is a returning all-area and all-BNE selection after leading the Rockets with 14 points per game. Klein (11 ppg.) is a talented slasher/shooter with a nose for the basket. Together they form a solid scoring duo. “They're going to be pretty darn good,” coach Brett Porto said. “They're both very good leaders and both good people who can do a lot of things off and on the basketball court. Sam's worked on his outside game, which makes him a tougher matchup problem for other teams. Ray has added an outside game to his driving game, which has gotten scary because he's getting bigger, stronger and faster. You'll see a difference in his play from last year to this year.” Hunnicutt's vertical has improved and he's dunking with both hands.

Beyond those two leaders, the Rockets also return three players who played in every game last season: Jared Moxness, Tim Sullivan and Thomas Fitzgerald. Moxness is a point guard who can get the ball up the court. Sullivan is a defender/slasher with a good outside shot. Fitzgerald rebounds and hustles. “He worked on his outside shot,” Porto said. “He did some nice things for us at the end of last year.” Coming off the bench are sophomores Ryan Ritchie and Joe Lopez, both of whom played varsity football this fall. Porto said this team is deep enough to play the same pressing style as a year ago. “The rotation from seven through 11 won't be figured out until January,” he said, “but I think we have enough depth to get up and down the court and get after people defensively. “We have some guys coming back who are leaders and who are hungry. They lost four games last year either at the buzzer or in overtime. They know one free throw, one more dive for a loose ball in each of those games and we'd be looking at a 17-10 season. With the people and experience we have coming back we just need to get off on the right foot and be sure we're playing our best basketball at the end of the season.”