Boys’ Basketball Season Preview: Aquinas Li’l Irish

TEAM: Aquinas L’il Irish

LEAGUE/CLASS: Private-Parochial/AAA

LAST SEASON: Finished 15-7, lost in the Class AA quarterfinals to Webster Schroeder.

COACH: Jeffrey LaFave (56-15, fifth season)

TOP RETURNERS: Chris Leysath 6-foot-6 Sr. F (returning starter, looking for breakout season); Mackie Terry 5-foot-10 Jr. SG (returning starter); Jadeir Breedlove 6-foot-1 Jr. SG/SF (returning starter who will fill many roles 1-4 this upcoming season); Micah Anderson 6-foot-2 Sr.; Christian McCullough 5-foot-8 So. PG; Quante Gillians 6-foot-5 Jr. PF.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Trent Buttles 5-foot-11 Fr. PG/SG/SF; Derrion Battle 5-foot-10 Jr. SG.

NEXT GAME: Tuesday, December 5th against Franklin. A 6:30 PM tip-off is scheduled at Franklin.

COACH LAFAVE’S WORDS: Chris Leysath is one of the best all-around big men in Section V. Looking for him to have break out senior season. Mackie Terry is a returning starter who will be a steady scorer all year for the L’il Irish. Jadeir Breedlove is a returning starter who will fill many roles 1-4 this upcoming season. Micah Anderson, a returning starter that is our “glue guy.” Micah Anderson does all the little things that help us win. Christian “Noonie’ McCullough will anchor our team as our starting floor general. Quante Gillians will be one of the first guys off the bench to spell our starters. His size and strength on the glass will be needed all season. Trent Buttles, this freshman will be one of the main guys coming off the bench to fill multiple roles. Derrion Battle will get many opportunities to spell our guards and be a key contributor off the bench.