ECC LARGE

East Lyme

Coach: Jeff Bernardi (1st year)

Key returnees: Jr. G Christian Brown, Sr. F Jeremiah Northcutt, Sr. F Logan Banker, Jr. G Kosta Lanis, Jr. F J.T. Mullins, Sr. G Ryan Tobin.

Top newcomers: Sr. G Steve Lewis, So. G Ned Shields.

Outlook: Bernardi joins the Vikings after spending a number of seasons as the associate head coach at Valley Regional, which won two state championships in recent years. East Lyme has gone 3-17 each of the last two seasons and failed to win a game in the Large Division, but Bernardi thinks there is enough quality experience back to make a run at qualifying for the ECC and state tournaments.

Fitch

Coach: Alick Furtick (2nd year)

Top returnees: Sr. C Pieter Khoury, Sr. F/C Ryan Glass, Sr. F John Floyd, Jr. G Ryan Reulig, Sr. G/F Sharif Brown, So. G/F Isiah Knox.

Top newcomers: Jr. G/F Eddie Volkerts, Fr. G Eduardo Gonzales, Jr. F/C Greg Cooper, Fr. F Ryan Tuohy.

Outlook: Furtuck returned to his alma and led the Falcons to ECC and Class L postseason bids, finishing 8-14 overall. Fitch returns a strong senior class and Furtick is excited about some of his newcomers. That includes many players who were part of a 14-win junior varsity team last season, a transfer in Volkerts, who will contribute immediately, and a point guard in Gonzales that Furtick said "isn't your ordinary freshman."

Ledyard

Coach: David Cornish (4th season)

Key returnees: Sr. G DeAnte Bruton, Sr. F Phyllip Thomas, Sr. G River Thomas, Sr. G Andrew Byrd, Sr. F Benjamin Gill, Jr. G Scott Whipple, Jr. F Anthony Viteritto, So. G Isiah McNair, So. G Isaiah Campbell.

Top newcomers: Sr. G Mario Graham, Sr. F Rashan Young, Sr. G Leo Clinton Jr. So. G Vin Baker Jr., Jr. Logan Hinton.

Outlook: The Colonels, after winning the division with a perfect 10-0 record, were upset by eventual ECC tournament champion NFA in the semifinals. But Ledyard bounced back and made a memorable run through the difficult Class LL state tournament reaching the semfinals before losing to eventual champion Bridgeport Central and finishing 21-5. Cornish lost three key players in Darnay Gray, Khary Childs and Dominique Benson, but still returns a veteran and talented case led by Bruton, an ECC Large All-Star. The Colonels will also be bolstered by some transfers, including the dangerous Graham, one of Fitch's top players.

NFA

Coach: Chris Guisti (2nd year)

Key returnees: Sr. F Brandon Drabinski, Sr. F Nahuel Bahl, Sr. F Jon Stevens, Sr. F Read Ward, Sr. F Brook Lussier.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Brian Feng, Jr. G Tyler Sholes, Jr. F Emir Jamison, Jr. F Alain Maceno, Jr. C Isaiah Joynder, So. G Steven Fletcher, So. G Luis Rivera.

Outlook: The Wildcats, after finishing third in the division during the regular season, upset Ledyard in the ECC tournament semifinals and Woodstock Academy to win the championship before reaching the second round in Class LL and finishing 19-7 overall. NFA, however, lost six key contributors from that team, including guard Marcus Outlow, The Day's All-Area Player of the Year, who has gone one to make a significant contribution to the Boston College football team as a true freshman. Drabinski is the lone returning player with varsity experience, although Fletcher earned varsity time as a freshman at St. Bernard.

ECC MEDIUM

Montville

Coach: Ben Stone (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. G Chance Collier, Sr. G/F Buddy Dewaine, Sr. C Patrick Podeszwa, Jr. G Joel Greenwood, Jr. G Cody Calash, Jr. F T.J. Bowens.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Jon McCray, Jr. G Dawson Milbauer, Fr. F Eric Beavins.

Outlook: Stone expects the Indians to make a run at qualifying for the ECC and Class M state tournaments after going 4-16 a year ago. One reason is the return of Dewaine, a dangerous scorer and a tremendous all-around athlete who has committed to play Division I baseball at Maine next year. Montville has a wealth of experience, too, but the Indians also have some talented newcomers who are capable of pushing the team to a solid season.

New London

Coach: Craig Parker (21st year)

Key returnees: Sr. G Seth Lake, Sr. G/F/C C.J. Parker, Sr. G Collin Sawyer, Sr. G Nabate Metts, Sr. C Bryan Cespedes, So. F/C Major Roman, Jr. F Tyrell Martinez.

Top newcomers: Sr. G/F Harry Georges, Sr. G Eddie Guibert, Sr. F/C Quantique White, Sr. G/F Tre Scott, So. G Nakwan Keith.

Outlook: The Whalers, who won the division last year with a 10-0 mark, will be the favorites and Parker believes this is his most talented team since 2012. New London, which finished 19-5 overall, returns a wealth of talent and experience at the guard position in Lake, Sawyer and Metts, while Cespedes, a UConn football commit as an offensive lineman, and Roman provide excellent size up front.

Stonington

Coach: John Luzzi (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. G Ethan Murphy, Jr. G Matt Donahue, Jr. C Amadi White, Jr. G Robert Fry, Jr. G Bobby Atkins, Sr. F Nicks Brooks.

Top newcomers: Sr. C Ben Volk, So. C Matt Schmeelk, Fr. G Ben Dellacono, Fr. G/F Zachary Deer.

Outlook: Luzzi takes over a team that went 3-17 a year ago and returns only two players with significant varsity experience, but the Bears have made great strides during the preseason. If the progression continues, Luzzi is confident Stonington can make a run at qualifying for the ECC and Class M state tournaments.

Waterford

Coach: Greg Gwudz (5th year)

Key returnees: Sr. F Connor Lewis, Sr. G Isaiah Jones, Sr. G Kyle McComic, Jr. G Kevin Johnson, Jr. G Michael Gianakos, Jr. G Jake Mangual.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Griffin Beaney, Sr. F Antonio Jenne, Jr.G Landon Peabody, Jr. F Jamel Iturrino, Fr. G Michael Buscetto.

Outlook: All-state guard Donny Craig graduated from a team that went 18-8 and reached the Class M semifinals, but the Lancers still have the talent to challenge New London within the division and make a deep run into the state tournament. Lewis and Jones are three-year starters, McComic, Gianakos, Johnson and Mangual played key varsity minutes a year ago, and Gwudz believes Buscetto will be a significant contributor as a freshman.

ECC SMALL

Wheeler

Coach: Neal Cobleigh (7th year)

Key returnees: Sr. G/F Jacob Raggon, Sr. G T.J. Condon, Jr. G Mike Dellaporta, Sr. F Max Dussault.

Top newcomers: Jr. F Alex Haines, So. F Ryan Dussault, So. G/F Dylan Wilkinson, So. G Michael Anderson.

Outlook: The Lions struggled a year ago, finishing 4-16, but return a pair of double-figure scorers in Raggon and Dellaporta, so offense shouldn't be a major problem. The ability to rebound and defend are keys, however, according to Cobleigh. If Wheeler is able to improve in those two areas qualifying for the ECC and Class S state tournaments are achievable goals.

OTHERS

Grasso Tech

Coach: Gregg Antoch (10th year)

Key returnees: Sr. G Joe Diaz Point, Sr. C Kevin Philibert, Jr. F Cyrus Connors, Jr. G Kendrick Amaro.

Top newcomers: Jr. F Jake Christian, So. G Kariath Wiggins, So. G Chris Rivera, Fr. G Ocyrus Vasquez, Jr. G Hughes Jean Baptiste.

Outlook: The Eagles must replace a 1,000-point career scorer in J'Quan Monroe, but Antoch thinks this year's team will be more consistent and balanced at the offensive end. Grasso Tech is a young team with only two seniors, but Antoch is confident it will be competitive in the Constitution State Conference East Division.

Norwich Tech

Coach: Jeff Brown (4th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Mike Froscello, Sr. Mack Osias, Sr. Justin Brown, Sr. Cal Senesac, Sr. Mat Martinez, Sr. Tom Nicholas, So. Jared Neal.

Top newcomers: Jr. Jacob Sulik, Jr. Alex Casillas, So. Nathan Perdomo.

Outlook: The Warriors are a senior-dominated team, but Brown believes there are some newcomers who could step in an contribute this season. Norwich Tech is counting on that experience to be a factor within the CSC.

Old Lyme

Coach: Kirk Kaczor (13th year)

Key returnees: Sr. G Jacob Ballachino, Sr. G Zac Abrahamsson, Sr. F Liam Corrigan, Sr. G Hunter Sheffield, Sr. G Mike Raspberry, Jr. F Drake Gavin, Jr. G Josh Turkowski.

Top newcomers: Jr. F George Doll, Jr. F Mike Booth, Jr. F Matt Watts-St. Germain, So. G Dean Palenski.

Outlook: The Wildcats were 10-10 a year ago during the regular season, but Kaczor believes this year's team has the goods to challenge for top honors in the always competitive Shoreline Conference. Old Lyme has solid depth at guard and a dangerous big man in the 6-foot-5 Corrigan.