Boys basketball: Scouting Warren

Coach: Chuck Ramsey, 19th season

Last year: 31-4, 12-0 (NSC Lake)

Last year's tournament: Lost in Class 4A state championship game to Simeon, 48-39.

Key players lost: F Jeremiah Jackson (Northern Illinois), G Brandon Ferguson (Dubuque), G Tanner Erbach, G Kendell Harris.

Key players returning: F Darius Paul, sr., F Nathan Boothe, sr., G JoVaughn Gaines, sr., G Jameris Smith, sr., F Jon Geske, sr., F Mitch Munda, sr.

Top newcomers: G Arthel Rosquist, jr., G Aarias Austin, jr., G Jay Pettis, jr.

Outlook: There's no secret here: Warren again has a target on its back. With two Division I players returning from a team that made a run to last year's Class 4A state championship game, Warren is the team to beat in Lake County, and will also be considered a heavyweight in all of Class 4A. Not that head coach Chuck Ramsey is putting much stock in either presumption. "What we've done in the past won't get it done this year," Ramsey said matter-of-factly. "Any reputations or predictions or expectations, they don't really matter. What matters is how we go about our business and how we prepare for each game. That's what I will be emphasizing this year." Meanwhile, opponents will be making Darius Paul and Nathan Boothe points of emphasis. They are the Blue Devils' marquee names, having both committed to Division I programs, Western Michigan and Toledo respectively. "We've never had two Division I kids come out of the same class before," Ramsey said. "We're really hoping they play (like Division I players). The thing about our team, though, is that it all doesn't have to be on two players. We have seven players who could really be solid players to lead this team and Darius and Nathan are two of them." Ramsey will also be looking to returners JoVaughn Gaines, Jameris Smith, Jon Geske, Mitch Munda and Roman Schultz to provide leadership and production. With Paul (6-foot-8), Boothe (6-9), Geske (6-7) and Schultz (6-6), the Blue Devils are hoping to produce many of their points inside. This is their tallest team ever. "We have a lot of size," Ramsey said. "We're always looking to run our offense from the inside out and that will certainly be even more of a focus this year with the size we have."

Opener: Wednesday, vs. Lake Forest Academy at Waukegan