Boys basketball: Scouting Grayslake North

Coach: Todd Grunloh, 6th season

Last year: 19-8, 8-4 (FVC Fox)

Last year's tournament: Lost to Chicago Senn in the regional semifinals, 68-66.

Key players lost: G Teddy Ludwick (Gogebic CC), C David Sparks

Key players returning: G AJ Fish, jr., G Mark Hall, sr., F Zack Krupp, sr., C Ben Guhl, sr., C Brendon Rose, sr.

Top newcomers: G Danny Mateling, jr., G Nick Carmody, jr.

Outlook: On the one hand, Grayslake North will be missing its leading scorer in school history this season in Teddy Ludwick. He is now off playing basketball in college. But on the other hand, the Knights could have their most balanced team in years. "I'm not sure we will have anyone average 18 points per game like Teddy was able to do last year," Grayslake North coach Todd Grunloh said. "But we should be able to put five guys on the court at once that can score, which at times last year we were not able to do." Grunloh returns nine varsity lettermen from a team that achieved 19 wins, the most in school history. Leading the way are returning starters AJ Fish, Mark Hall and Zack Krupp, all strong perimeter threats. Fish averaged 11.2 points per game last season and is coming off a spectacular season at starting quarterback for the football team. "I'm hoping our experience in the backcourt with Hall, Fish and Krupp will be one of our greatest strengths," Grunloh said. "But I'm also excited to see how well our two senior centers will push each other as they compete for playing time." Ben Guhl and Brendon Rose both figure to get more minutes with the departure of center David Sparks, who averaged 10 points per game last season as a senior. "I'm very excited to see what this group of players can do," Grunloh said. "Throughout the summer, they worked very well together and had success."

Opener: Tuesday vs. Wauconda at the Richmond-Burton tournament