Scouting Neuqua Valley boys basketball

Neuqua Valley

Coach: Todd Sutton (13th year, 257-30; 22nd overall, 419-174).

Last year: 27-3, 10-0, first in the Upstate Eight Conference; lost 76-68 (OT) to East Aurora in the Class 4A Plainfield East regional final.

Top players: Peter Catchings, jr., G; Sam Johnson, sr., F; Alex Karkazis, sr., F; Ryan McDermott, sr., G; Darien Miskel, so., F; Sean Pyritz, sr., G; Jabari Sandifer, so., G; Jim Stocki, sr., F; Tyler Sutton, jr., G.

Scouting report: Johnson, who averaged 4.1 points, is the sole returning starter after graduated Kareem Amedu, Rahjan Muhammad and the program’s top rebounder and No. 2 scorer, Dwayne Evans, who were 58-3 the last two seasons. Shorter, younger and not as quick as past teams, Todd Sutton said, the Wildcats’ strengths are smarts and shooting ability. Stocki, who shined in a reserve role last season, will up his 5.0 point average significantly. McDermott will let it fly. Pyritz also had his moments, but he starts the season injured. Rebounding, defense must be improved. This is Neuqua. It’ll happen. “We’ll probably struggle early and be pretty good by the end of the year,” Sutton said.