ECC Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Daniel Scheyder (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. G Michael Timpano, Sr. G Brendan Osso, Sr. G Jaylen Hannans, Jr. F Oliver Hibbard.

Top newcomers: Jr. F Tanner O'Brien, Sr. F Nicolas Petrini, Sr. F Alex Salerno, Sr. G Jake Gada, Sr. G Sidhaarth Bulusu.

Outlook: Scheyder takes over for Tim Strong, who is the new coach at Grasso Tech. The Vikings, who didn’t make the state tournament last season, have a good shooter in Timpano and experience with Osso, Hannans and Hibbard. “We will be returning some key players from the varsity rotation last year and are excited about our young talent coming up,” Scheyder said. “We will look to display disciplined and relentless effort. We have high hopes for what this team can accomplish.”

Fitch

Coach: Charles Silvan (8th season)

Key returnees: Soph. G JJ Robinson, Sr. F Jacob Francis, Sr. G Zander Timmerman, Jr. G Malakhi Sabb, Jr. F Carlos Rhymer.

Top newcomers: Soph. G Xavier Goode, Jr. G Calvin Sebastian.

Outlook: The Falcons may have one of the ECC’s best backcourts in Robinson (all-ECC last season) and Goode, a transfer from New London. Francis is a three-year starter in the middle. “We want to continue our climb to being one of the more consistent programs in the state,” Silvan said. “We have a very young backcourt but very exciting. We want to defend and expand our game offensively. We are excited to take on the challenges presented to us this year.”

New London

Coach: Dave Cornish (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. G Da'Shaun Phillips; Jr. G Devan Williams, Jr. F SaVahn Warren, Soph. F Julius Washington; Sr. C/F Nahkym Davis; Sr. C/F Teeje Punch; Sr. G Zuri Craig.

Top newcomers: Jr. C/F Jaxyn Beaudet; Soph. G Amir Hall; Soph. G Jamir Hall, Fr. G Cayden Simonds-Gaskin.

Outlook: Cornish returns to his alma mater, where he was once a 9-year assistant. The Whalers have three-year starters in Phillips and Warren and one of the league’s top scorers in Williams. Simonds-Gaskin will play significantly as a freshman. “We are looking to make defense a priority this year and compete every single night,” Cornish said. “This is one of the deepest teams I've every coached. We have a lot of offensive weapons, But in order to accomplish what we want to accomplish this year, we will need to stay disciplined, execute, and most importantly, commit to playing tough defense.”

NFA

Coach: Jeff Brown (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Armanee Davis, Sr. G Eshaad Hernandez, Sr. F Camron Barboza, Sr. G Malachy Murray, Soph. F Ethan Graham, Jr. G Kody Jamieson.

Top newcomers: Jr. G Keegan Johnston, Jr. G Avery Guernsey, Jr. G Jayvon Thompson, Fr. G Josh Lavoie, Sr. C Gage Hinckley.

Outlook: Brown takes over for Dave Cornish, who left NFA to become head coach at New London. Most of the roster returns, including Davis, the leading returning scorer. “Seniors will lead the way and we look forward to the up and coming players contributing,” Brown said.

St. Bernard

Coach: Mark Jones (11th season)

Key returnees: Jr. G Amyre Gray, Jr. F Amare Marshall. Sr. G Colin O'Leary, Soph. G

Ty Grudzien, Sr. F Justin Outlow, Jr. G Shem Adams, Sr. G Jonah Eddy.

Top newcomers: Jr. F Tyler Mangual, Jr. G Nazir Rembert, Fr. F Curtis Marshall, Fr. F Troy McKelvin Jr., Sr. G Oakely Garrison.

Outlook: The Saints, who earned three first-place votes in the state preseason media poll, enter the season as the state’s No. 4 ranked team. With good reason. Plenty of talent returns in Gray and Amare Marshall. But there are several promising newcomers, including Rembert, a former all-ECC player at NFA, Mangual (Windham) and Curtis Marshall and McKelvin Jr., who figure to be two of the league’s top freshmen. “As a group, we lost great seniors but we have great young talent and a great mixture of veteran players that are ready to lead the team,” Jones said. “We have a group that plays extremely hard and with spirit.”

ECC Division II

Ledyard

Coach: D.J. Exum (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Peyton Luther, Sr. F Ethan Petrowski, Sr. C Ben Rusczyk, Jr. G Cameron Weber.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Zion Bunkley, Sr. G Alex Kiss-Vega, Sr. F Jo’Seth Gilbert, Sr. F Donovan Greene, Jr. G Amani Dudley.

Outlook: Exum, after enduring a 2-19 season last year, saw growth in the offseason. “We have put in a high demand on discipline, hard work and respect,” Exum said. “There’s a growing anticipation to see the fruit of their labor. Fair to say there’s an expectation to see growth in our young men this winter, on and off the court.”

Waterford

Coach: Bill Bassett (9th season)

Key returnees: Sr. C Juan Morel, Soph. G Parker Spencer

Top newcomers: Sr. G Jordi Cassar, Sr. F Sean Kramer, Sr. G Griffin Neal, Sr. G Quinn Speller, Sr. F Porter Swenson-Cardwell, Jr. G Gabe Lombardi, Jr. G Matt Shampine.

Outlook: Bassett, with more state titles (two) than any other current ECC coach, watched his Lancers fail to qualify for the state tournament last season. There is hope for 2024, however, led by the promise of a point guard (Spencer), shooter (Cassar) and center (Morel). “This team will be centered around solid defense,” Bassett said, “and we hope to use that energy to propel our offense as well.”

(ECC Division II also includes Windham and Woodstock Academy)

ECC Division III

Bacon Academy

Coach: Craig Kupper (7th season)

Key returnees: Sr. F Theo Koutsofavas, Soph. F Troy Johnson, Sr. G Jace King, Sr. F Kevin Claffey, Jr. G/F Julian Rodegher, Jr. G Jackson Budrow, Soph. G Sawyer Nauss.

Top newcomers: Sr. F Grant Johnson, Sr. F Eric Prates, Jr. F Jowan Jefferson.

Outlook: The Bobcats last Elijah Black, Luke Grimord and Keegan Appleby to graduation. Kupper says “they’ll be tough to replace.” But he added, “We have enough experience from the returning players and a talented group of newcomers. We are looking to build on the team success from last year.”

Griswold

Coach: Rob Mileski (15th season)

Key returnee: Sr. G KinKade Rubino.

Top newcomers: Sr. G Sean Garvin, Sr. F Ryan Tate, Jr. C Matt Perea, Jr. G Carmelo Curtis, Soph. G Aaden Cutter, Soph. G/F Kolby Mills, Soph. F Kaiden Kazlauskas, Soph. C Jayden Joseph, Soph. G Nick Watters, Soph. G Brayden Weidner.

Outlook: The bad news: The Wolverines lost nearly all of their scoring and experience from last season’s ECC Division II Tournament champion and eventual state semifinalist. The good news: A 15-win junior varsity team offers promise as to transfers Mills (Killingly) and Joseph (NFA, a 6-5 center). “A talented young group, as several sophomores are competing for minutes,” Mileski said.

Montville

Coach: Joe Cyr (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. F Jace Kobyluck, Soph. G Jack Treat, Jr. G Aidan Johnson, Sr. F Ben Godburn, Sr. G Jayden Sherwood.

Top newcomers: Fr. G Jace Cheung, Jr. G Jaylon Raphael, Jr. G Tommy Greene, Soph. F Izaiah Yard.

Outlook: Cyr takes over after serving as an assistant coach at Coast Guard under Kevin Jaskiewicz. The Wolves lost all-state guard LeBron Maurice, but have Kobyluck (12.6 ppg) back as are several young players Cyr is looking forward to coaching. “Look for a more balanced approach this season,” Cyr said.

Stonington

Coach: Jay Wosencroft (5th season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Aaron Lopresto, Sr. G Alex Deperry, Sr. G Robbie Scavello, Sr. F Dylan Cimini, Jr. C Alex Nowak.

Top newcomers: Soph. G Brady O’Neil, Jr. F Patrick McGugan, Jr. G Jayden Carter, Sr. F Cole Phelan.

Outlook: The Bears took a step back last season after winning the ECC Division II Tournament title in 2022. Wosencroft is excited. “We are returning three guards (Lopresto, Deperry, Scavello) that played significant minutes last year,” Wosencroft said. “They’ve all taken steps forward to become better leaders and players. Committing to defense and sharing the ball will be key for us this year.”

(ECC Division III also includes Killingly)

ECC Division IV

Lyman Memorial

Coach: Aaron Lorenzo (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Jordan Chandler, Sr. G Jared Russo, Jr. C Kevin Botticello, Sr. F Owen Christiansen.

Top newcomers: Sr. G James Apicelli, Jr. F Owen Masse, Soph. F Connor Hawkins.

Outlook: There is optimism around the program as Lorenzo led the Bulldogs to the program’s first state semifinal appearance since 1967. Lorenzo likes the leadership on his team, saying, “ we will be looking to build off the success of last season on the backs of strong upperclassmen and their leadership.”

Wheeler

Coach: Steve Bailey (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Keith Zardies, Sr. G Kyle Kessler, Jr. F Zane Brewer, Sr. F Jayson Krysiewicz, Sr. F Deondre Bransford, Sr. C Wyatt Elliott, Sr. G Jon Anderson, Sr. F Kiyle Montigny, Sr. F Sean Bergel, Jr. F Garrett Lenihan, Jr. G Nate Mayne.

Top newcomers: Jr. G James Main, Jr. F Mason Perkins, Soph. G Brodey Pappas.

Outlook: The Lions graduated nobody from a team that made the ECC Division II Tournament semifinals and made the state playoffs. “We set the standard pretty high last year and we certainly have goals in mind, including defending our division title and playing well going into both the conference and state tournaments,” Bailey said. Wheeler’s non-divisional games include New Milford, Guilford, Branford and Waterford, perhaps the program’s most difficult schedule ever.

(ECC Division IV also includes Plainfield, Putnam and Tourtellotte)

Others

Grasso Tech

Coach: Tim Strong (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. G Charis Johnson, Sr. G Kelvin Paulino Familia, Sr. F Rome Brown.

Top newcomers: Sr. G Nick Stavesky, Sr. G Cristian LaPrade, Sr. C Bryce Johnson, Jr. G ReYaal Rogers, Soph. C Ethan Chacha Mizhquiri, Soph. G Jerry Santiago, Jr. G Issac Rivera, Soph. F Joseph Moore, Soph. F Ryan Gemaly.

Outlook: Strong, who has coached at Montville and East Lyme, takes over at Grasso with a team he says is “young and looks to get better each day. There will be some growing pains as we play a young sophomore class that has tons of promise.”

Old Lyme

Coach: Brady Sheffield (1st season)

Key returnees: Sr. F Leland Hine, Sr. G Jack Porter, Sr. G Elias Sahadi, Sr. G Charlie Sahadi, Sr. G Dylan Paynter, Soph. G Colman Curtiss-Reardon.

Top newcomers: Fr. F Eddie Fiske, Soph. G James Dahlke, Soph. F Oliver Wyman.

Outlook: Sheffield’s first season comes in what he calls “a contested Shoreline Conference this season.” Sheffield said he’s looking forward to coaching a team with “a balance of returning players and young talent.”

Williams

Coach: Miles Daniels (3rd year)

Key returnees: Jr. G Marc Macera, Jr. F Robby Shay, Soph. G Jadiel Thomas, Soph. F Henry Champagne.

Top newcomers: Soph. G Lance Jastremski, Fr. G Liam Kelly, Jr. G Arnell Peck, Soph. F Sean Dockery.

Outlook: The Blues return four starters, including Thomas, last season’s second-leading scorer. “People may be sleeping on us now, but we are putting in the work daily to open some eyes in the future,” Daniels said.