Rising Sun boys basketball preview

    Coming off a four-win season, the Rising Sun boys basketball team is expecting a major turnaround.
    The Tigers will rely heavily on 6-6 senior center Brandon Aro.
    "His game has improved a lot from last year," Rising Sun coach Matt Haack said. "His confidence is up and he's playing more with his back to the rim. He has improved his strength and his speed and he's poised to have a real good senior season and to be our main leader on and off the court."        Junior Kevin Alkinburg, who spent most of last season on the JV team, is expected to team with Aro to form an imposing duo. "We're hoping he and Aro can be a big 1-2 threat on both the offensive and defensive end," said Haack.
    The coach said the 6-6 Alkinburg has a nice touch on his midrange jumper and can block shots.

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    Zach Alexander, a 6-4 senior, and Ben Curran add depth to the frontcourt.
    "Zach will be big on the boards for us on both the offensive and defensive end," said Haack.
    "He's been in the program four years. He knows the offense so he's able to come off the bench and contribute right away."
    Curran, a 6-3 junior, is a transfer from St. Mark's. "He's strong and raw and has a lot of good instincts," said Haack. "He will work on his post moves and learn from the other big guys who have been in the program longer."
    The versatile Kyle Andersen is a natural small forward but is also capable of playing power forward. "He is a hard worker and has improved his game a lot," said Haack. "He's solid with the ball and a strong passer."
    Sophomore Jesse Shields is slated to be the starting point guard. Shields saw varsity experience last season. "He is stronger and a lot more confident," Haack said.
    Freshman Naim Collins, a transfer from Havre de Grace, will also contribute at the point. "He's very raw but very talented," said Haack. "He has great court vision. We're hoping he can develop and split time with Jesse at the point."
    Senior swingman Spencer McDermott will play a key role. "He provides great leadership," said Haack. "He's a solid defender, able to get to the rim, and has a good midrange jump shot."
    Nick Luciano's outside shooting ability will be important to the Tigers. "He can really hit the three-point shot," said Haack. "He's also good at the dribble drive. We're hoping his shot will open things up inside for our bigs."
    Junior Randy Rash was the final cut last year but worked hard to improve his game. "He's a good all-around player," said Haack. "He's a good defender and quick to the rim. We're hoping he'll continue to develop and contribute off the bench."
    Senior shooting guard Jordan Edwards played JV last season. "He's going to be our firecracker off the bench," said Haack. "He's a high energy guy on defense and a spark on offense. We can utilize him off the bench to get our energy up."
    Junior Marquis Topp transferred from Havre de Grace with his brother Collins.
    "His game is a little unrefined but he has flashes of real good play," said Haack. "We know we can develop his game so he will be able to help us."
    Junior guard Brennan Martz adds outstanding defense. "He's probably the best man-up defender on the team," said Haack. "He's very fast and very athletic. He has good instincts and when he's feeling it, he's a deadly shooter."
    Haack expects the Tigers to reach double-digit victories.
    "Last year I may have set expectations too high," the coach said. "This year we should be competitive in all our county games. Realistically, we've set a goal of at least 10 wins. With the team we have and a favorable schedule we should be able to achieve that.”