LEAGUE PREVIEWS : DELPHIC

BUCKLEY

LAST SEASON: 21-4, 7-3 in league

THIS SEASON: Three part-time starters, Jason Weisstein, James Tweedie and Kevin Corbett, are the only players back from last season’s team that finished second in league and lost in the second round of the playoffs to Montclair Prep by one point. They will be joined by three players who moved up from the junior varsity in Keith Blane, Jon Nadelenco and Rob Dickenson, all of whom are 6-0. Weisstein (6-2) is the team’s tallest player. “We’re going to have to run and press more since we have such little height,” Ron Cooper said. “We’re going to be pressing from the tip-off. It’s tough to do with six kids.”

CAMPBELL HALL

LAST SEASON: 2-13, 0-10 in league

THIS SEASON: The Vikings’ top player is 5-7 guard Donnie Sakaida, who averaged 23 points a game last year and was the only junior selected to last season’s all-league first team. “I’m not sure that he’s not the best player in the league, if it’s not for David Wolfe of Crossroads,” Coach Phil Bruder said. “He shoots, penetrates and handles the ball well. His instincts are very good.” Tim Sutton (6-4) will start at center. Seniors Tim Jensen and Raffi Techdjian are the forwards, and sophomore Ty Leatherman joins Sakaida in the back court.

FAITH BAPTIST

LAST SEASON: 2-11, 4-6 in league

THIS SEASON: Coach Stuart Mason had four starters graduate from last season’s fourth-place team, but he says this year’s team will be stronger. The source of his optimism is 6-7 sophomore Jason Henderson. “He’s really starting to come around,” Mason said. “He’s put on strength and he’s more aggressive.” Other starters will be senior Todd Stadig, juniors Rich Leon and Fernando Viciconte and sophomore David Hairston, who’s the nephew of former Los Angeles Laker forward Happy Hairston. Mason said the team plans to run more this season to take advantage of its speed.

PROVIDENCE

LAST SEASON: 12-6, 6-4 in league

THIS SEASON: Providence has lost six of 10 players to academic ineligibility. The players can be reinstated after the next grade reporting period Dec. 8. Until then, the ineligible players can practice with the team but cannot play in the first week of the season, forcing Coach Paul Sutton to use junior varsity players. With good report cards, Providence’s starting lineup will be Steve Ross (5-9) and Jeff Cirillo (6-1) at guard, Rich Campus (6-0) and Pete Mirkovich (6-3) at forward; and Todd Vizgirda (6-2) at center. “We’re not that big, but we’re tough,” Sutton said. “We’ll use an intimidating type of defense. We’ll try to intimidate taller guys inside.”