Ten questions for the high school hoops season: Part 2

Now for the second part of our mini-series, in which we focus on the boys' side of the YAIAA hoops equation.

Weigh in with your thoughts on the upcoming season using the comments section.

After graduating one of the area’s most talented senior classes in recent memory, how will the league stack up?

Overall the YAIAA lost six Division I basketball players last year -- four on the boys’ side, two more on the girls’side. All six are contributing in some fashion for their respective college teams.

In other words, a lot of basketball talent graduated last spring. It’s probably not a coincidence four YAIAA teams won district titles last season.

Still, there are plenty of proven players back, and several others primed to breakthrough. If the overall level of the league does dip, it shouldn’t be too much.

Will Northeastern live up to its lofty expectations?

The Bobcats guard trio of Elijah Cooper and brothers Chris and Khalid Nwandu provide an exciting foundation. All three can score. All three can handle the ball. All three are long and athletic, which should make them a nightmare of defense. When this team gets going in transition, it should be fun to watch.

The biggest question may be size. Those three guards are also the Bobcats’ tallest players. How will Northeastern match up against a tall, physical post presence like Central York’s Spencer Ortmyer, Dallastown’s Manny Mossengo or South Western’s Parker Bean?

And don’t overlook West York and Dover, who certainly have the talent to challenge in Division II.

What will William Penn produce for an encore?

The defending District 3 Class AAAA champions may pack as much offensive firepower as any team in the area, even with the loss of all-state guard Kelvin Parker and steady center Zach Newby. Guards Dejian Williams, Tavon Parker and Collin Smith are all capable of scoring in bunches, as is senior guard Na’Shon Deshields, who missed last season with an ACL injury.

But can they make it back to the Giant Center this spring? Once again, the issue may be size. Who fills Newby’s role down low? Or will the Bearcats simply have to rely on their speed and outside shooting to outscore opponents?

What about the rest of Division I?

There are a handful of intriguing teams here. Dallastown lost the area’s top scorer, Four McGlynn, who has since gotten off to a fast start at Vermont. Still, the Wildcats return lots of size, and their JV team went undefeated last year.

South Western could also be primed to make a jump, with the junior tandem of Mike Duffy and Bean having one more year of experience under its belt. Then there’s Central York and Red Lion, who both should boast some size up front and experience in the backcourt. Expect a lot of nail-biters in this division.

What team in Division III or IV could make a big jump this season?

Don’t sleep on York Catholic. The Fighting Irish return four starters from last season. They also add forward Michael Sperring, who missed all of last season after having emergency surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain. Not to mention Division IV looks fairly wide open, with defending District 3 Class AA champion Hanover having graduated nearly its entire team.

Division III also looks up for grabs, with Eastern York staring down the daunting task of replacing four-year starters Austin Tillotson and Andrew Nicholas, both now at Monmouth. York Suburban returns versatile forward Ted Hinnenkamp (14 ppg), and may rank as the early favorite. Can Bermudian Springs or Susquehannock make a jump in the standings, perhaps?