Boys basketball: Scouting Vernon Hills

Coach: Matt McCarty, 9th season

Last year: 17-11, 10-2 (NSC Prairie)

Last year's tournament: Lost to Grayslake Central in the regional championship, 49-39.

Key players lost: G/F DaVaris Daniels (Notre Dame, football), G Chris Argianas, C Brian Berzanski (Missouri State, football)

Key players returning: G Darrin Hoveydai, sr., C John Foley, sr., C Jarrett Wood, sr., G Stephen Curry, jr.

Top newcomers: F Trent Fulton, jr., C/F TJ Flis, jr., G Brett Peterson, jr., G Dylan McNamara, jr.

Outlook: This is the year 2011 A.D. But for Vernon Hills, there's a double meaning there. For the Cougars, this is year after Argianas and Daniels, two of the best perimeter players in the North Suburban Conference last season. Moving forward won't be easy for Vernon Hills. DaVaris Daniels, now a freshman on the Notre Dame football team, and Argianas, a three-sport star at Vernon Hills over his career, averaged 17 and 13 points respectively and were a big reason the Cougars finished as the Prairie Division co-champions and advanced to the regional finals. "We are looking to replace a lot of points with the graduation of Daniels and Argianas (and center Brian Berzanski). We have lost 37 of our 55 points per game," Vernon Hills coach Matt McCarty said. "We need some of our players to step up on the offensive end and be more consistent in scoring the ball. We have relied heavily on Daniels for the past four years. I expect our players to take on the challenge of proving they can compete without having him anymore." Likely candidates to fill the scoring void are guards Darrin Hoveydai and Stephen Curry, who combined to average about 13 points per game last season. Both have long histories on the varsity. Hoveydai has been up since midway through his sophomore year and Curry has played major varsity minutes since he stepped in the gym as a freshman. "I think our biggest asset is our backcourt," McCarty said. "Darrin and Stephen are very good with the basketball in their hands. If we can find guys to run the floor and catch their passes, we should be able to score some points in transition. I think we will lean heavily on them and I think they are capable of the demands we will put on them."

Opener: Vs. Maine East at the Northridge Prep Thanksgiving Tourney