Scouting Leyden Eagles

Leyden Eagles

Coach Bill Heisler (third year, 16-38)

Last year 12-16, 5-7 (4th WSC Gold)

Key losses Alex Regalado (all-area, 18 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, 3 spg), Anthony Cushion (10.8 ppg, 87 3s),

Returning players Seniors Mike Woolf (6-0, G, 11.4 ppg, 51 3s), Javi Lazcano (5-10, G), Tracy Silmon (6-0, G), Julian Moreno (6-0, F); junior Brandon Stinson (6-2, F)

Newcomers Seniors Kevin Martinez (5-9, G), Adam Brown (5-10, G); juniors Ricky Montgomery (5-8, G), John Gulo (5-10, G), Eric Palmer (6-3, C), Diego Angel (5-8, G), Chris Dreyer (6-4, C), Andres Orrego (6-0, F), Carlos Olavarria (5-8, G); sophomore Patrick Listwan (6-0, F)

Outlook With a guard-dominant team, Heisler is pushing one speed to the Eagles. "Right now we're trying to emphasize faster, faster, faster," Heisler said. "We're excited about this group. They kind of have it going the way we want it to." The second year of running the ball-press defense used by downstate Lincoln, Quincy and Rockton Hononegah has been much smoother with Woolf and Lazcano back as starting guards. "I really think we're going to score," Heisler said. "When you lose a kid (Regalado) like that, it's something you worry about. But I think we have a lot of depth and ability to score and play at a faster pace." Silmon played mostly junior varsity in his first year in the program after transferring but will be counted on to use his length and athletic ability to cause problems at the point of the press. Palmer is the tallest regular but is a good long-range shooter with a guard mentality and Listwan and Stinson are expected to help. "Something that was a major weakness has turned into a strength," Heisler said of the Eagles' depth. "We have kids who can come off the bench and score a little bit. We have to get them committed to all five of them rebounding the ball and we also can't turn it over."