Scouting Cary-Grove Trojans

Cary-Grove Trojans

Coach Ralph Schuetzle (6th year, 83-63)

Conference Fox Valley (Valley)

Last year 14-14, 3-7 FVC-Valley

Top returners Ryan Barker (6-3, F), Matt Jones (5-8, G), Chad McCarron (6-3, F), Matt Zaruba (5-7, PG)

Top newcomers juniors Ryan Anderson (6-4, C), Matt Aulert (6-3, F), Jon Guay (6-2, G), Alex Posey (6-5, F), Nick Richter (6-1, G)

Outlook The Cary-Grove basketball team won't be at full strength until football season ends. Leading scorer Chad McCarron (12.4 ppg., 6.8 rpg) is still playing split end and cornerback for the undefeated Trojans football team, as is forward Ryan Barker, who was the first player off the bench last year. "We just have to weather that football storm, stay positive and use it as a chance for younger guys to get minutes and see how they can contribute to the team," coach Ralph Schuetzle said. "We have to be patient. We can't expect to be playing our best basketball the first week." Once the team is at full strength, Schuetzle expects to use a nine-man rotation. For now, position battles continue at point guard and in the low block. Matt Jones started 12 games at the point last season and Nick Richter can play the point or the wing. Posey is the team's tallest player at 6-5. Aulert can attack the basket and Guay is in excellent shape, thanks to the recently completed soccer season. Anderson could give the Trojans a big lift with even a modest scoring output. "If Ryan Anderson can step up and score 6 or 8 points a game, that would really give us a boost and a little more scoring punch," Schuetzle said. "I think in time we're going to be a hard team to beat. I think we're going to be in a lot of close games as we were last year. We can put two or three shooters on the floor at one time in addition to Chad being a scorer, so I think we could be pretty hard to guard. We can spread defenses out, so if that low-post guy can score some for us... But it'll be a while until we're at full strength."