Scouting Vernon Hills Cougars

Vernon Hills Cougars

Coach Matt McCarty (7th season)

Last year 15-12, 9-3 NSC Prairie

Key players lost G Riaz Hoveydai (Lake Forest College)

Key players returning G DaVaris Daniels, jr., F Chris Morgan, sr., C Robert Bryant, sr., F Tyler Zuniga, sr.

Key newcomers G Brandon Curry, sr., G Chris Argianas, jr., G Stephen Curry, fr.

Outlook As far as goals go, Matt McCarty's top goal for his team this season, besides winning games, couldn't be more player-friendly. "We want to score more points," McCarty said. "We averaged 54 points per game last year and I want to see us in the 60s. That means that we have to attack on offense and we can't settle for jumpshots. And we have to get up and down the floor more."-The Cougars should be able to oblige. They've got plenty of athletes in DaVaris Daniels, Chris Morgan, Robert Bryant and brothers Brandon and Stephen Curry. Daniels, who is skilled enough to play just about anywhere, averaged 13 points per game last season and was named all-conference and all-area. Morgan, a bruising forward who is a lineman for the football team, was at 10 points per game and Bryant is a returning starter. "We used to be more of a jump-shooting team and we did a lot of fadeaways," McCarty said. "But I see us being much more aggressive and running the floor much more." To run, the Cougars will need a competent point guard, which they lost in graduation. Riaz Hoveydai is now at Lake Forest College. But junior Chris Argianas has stepped up and has been playing well from that spot. "Chris was our starting point guard for the sophomore team last season and we brought him up for the last two weeks," McCarty said. "His basketball IQ is really good."

Opener 7:30 p.m. Monday vs. Maine East at Northridge Prep Tourney