It's already been well-documented Ozark's projected rotation of eight players for this season includes only one player with significant varsity experience.
Matter of fact, the only Tiger besides Jace Whatley to have scored even a single point on the varsity level is Garrett Ballard. He had one point last season.
Ozark can draw optimism from other numbers, such as seven of the Tigers' top eight players are 6-foot-1 or taller and athletic enough to be able to dunk and their junior-varsity was 16-7 last winter.
"They are used to winning games. I'm not going to expect anything less," coach Mark Schweitzer said. "We've got a lot of length. We've got to use that. I think we will be able to defend, rebound and do a lot of the little things. We're going to get after it and play as a team.
"Our ceiling is really high," he added. "Every team has a ceiling they aspire to get to. If they get to it or pass it, they are the teams playing and making runs late in the year. This team's ceiling is so far above their heads right now. Who knows how far they can go because they are starting at the base level. They're a bunch of jayvee guys from last year and Jace."
Whatley made quite a splash as a sophomore last season. He averaged 11.2 points a game, to go along with 180 rebounds, 72 assists, 40 steals and 20 blocks.
Whatley will go from a supporting role to being the focal point of the Tigers' offense, as well as opposing scouting reports.
"(Opponents) didn't key on him much last season, although some teams did because he was that big of a presence inside," Schweitzer said. "We're going to see how he handles (increased attention). His adjustment to that will be critical."
The Tigers’ backcourt will be made up of Ballard, Ethan Sutherland and Hudson Roberts. Sutherland will be at point guard, with Ballard and Roberts being shooting guards.
Schweitzer is hopeful Ballard can establish himself along the perimeter and by attacking toward the basket.
"Garrett has done a great job (in summer ball) scoring at all three levels — inside, outside and mid-range," Schweitzer said. "We will need him to score for this team to be successful. We are confident he can do that. He just needs to get used to the speed and pace of the varsity level and he will. He's capable of averaging double figures. It's just a matter of him believing in himself and doing it."
To get an idea of Ballard's potential consider that even with one varsity point, he already has one college offer. Baptist Bible College extended him an offer last summer.
"Any college would be lucky to bring him in," Schweitzer said.
Ballard and Sutherland are the only seniors in the Tigers' eight-man rotation.
"They are both great teammates and that's why I'm rooting for them to have a heck of a senior year," Schweitzer said.
Whatley is being reunited with fellow juniors Phin Scott, Jake Garner and Ryan Engel.
Roberts and 6-10 center Cohen George are sophomores.
Schweitzer predicts Roberts will be among the team's top scorers.
Naturally, due to his size, George will be one to keep an eye on.
"Cohen has gotten a lot better over the last year. He's coming along nicely," Schweitzer said. "He'll probably play off the bench. But that could easily change because he's 6-10. We will see how he adjusts to the varsity level as the year goes along."
Schweitzer expects Garner and Engel to be key contributors, even if they don't score much.
"Jake is going to help us out a lot on the defensive end," Schweitzer said. "Ryan does all the dirty work people don't want to do on defense and with rebounding. He improves us on the defensive end tremendously."
The majority of Ozark's top eight players take part in at least one other sport and have already made an impact at the varsity level elsewhere.
"They're multiple-sport athletes. But I think basketball is their favorite (sport)," Schweitzer said. "They've been waiting for this year. They're going to make the most of this year, I'm very confident in that."
Schweitzer hopes his players' varsity experience in football, soccer or baseball helps them in adapting to the changes from jayvee to varsity on the hardwood, most notably the increase in physicality.
"They're going to have to figure out how to score at the varsity level," he said. "It's a different game when you're getting the bumps and pushes that don't get called at the varsity level, but maybe do get called at the younger levels. It's a different pace and physicality and the kids have to be able to handle it.
"Our only weakness is experience, so this team is going to have games in which they look really good and games in which they might not look very good," he added. "The biggest key will be to stay positive and keep working."
With Ozark having averaged 19 wins over the last eight seasons, prognosticators are counting on the Tigers to reload and have pegged them to again be among the COC's best teams.
Schweitzer is looking forward to his new crop of players establishing themselves.
"People don't really know who our kids are and what they can do," he said. "They are saying nice things, that we will be competitive and things like that. This group has to make their own way and prove they can compete.”
