IN PLAY: Princeton Day School boys’ basketball player Josiah Meekins dribbles the ball in a game last winter. Senior guard Meekins figures to be a key performer for the PDS in his final campaign. The Panthers get their 2014-15 season underway this week as they were slated to host Conwell Egan (Pa.) on December 9, Pennington on December 11 and Solebury School (Pa.) on December 15. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

With just three players returning from last year’s squad, the Princeton Day School boys’ basketball team will have a new look this winter by necessity.

“It is a fresh start, it is a good opportunity for young guys, not just in age but in basketball experience, to play at the varsity level,” said PDS head coach Paris McLean, who guided the Panthers to a 9-14 record in 2013-14. “There is optimism, excitement, and some nervousness.”

McLean is excited about his backcourt tandem of sophomore Chase Lewis and senior Josiah Meekins, who do bring plenty of varsity experience to the table.

“Chase has improved a great deal, he is taller and stronger,” said McLean, whose team gets regular season play underway this week as it was slated to host Conwell Egan (Pa.) on December 9, Pennington on December 11, and  Solebury School (Pa.) on December 15.

“He has worked on his game, his outside shot is better. His ballhandling has always been good, he has the ability to get to the rim. He will play multiple positions for us this year. He will bring the ball up the court for us and also be the off guard sometimes. He is our most seasoned player in terms of minutes, which is unusual for a sophomore. We will be looking to Josiah to play a bigger role, we will rely on him to play multiple positions too. He has a strong body and can help us in the post.”

The Panthers have multiple options in the backcourt with a trio of sophomores, Hassan Ladiwala, Mark Washington, and Paul Franzoni.

“We are a guard-heavy team,” said McLean. “Hassan, Washington and Franzoni are all sophomores, that bodes well for the future. They are kids that will come in and eat up minutes. We have talked to them about that. There are a total of 160 minutes available in a game and are you going to be a 10-minute guy, a 15-minute guy, or a 25-minute guy.”

The key guy in the paint for the Panthers will be senior J.P. Radvany, a Villanova-bound baseball star.

“J.P. is looking good, he is a strong, lean guy at 6’4 and 195 pounds,” said McLean.

“He has a great presence inside. We will be relying on him to defend and rebound and put in shots close to the basket. He is a great glue guy; he brings that commitment to work ethic and athletics.”

Helping Radvany inside will be Meekins, junior James Fragale, freshman Nick Darenkov, senior Cody Meagher, senior Zaire Mitchell, and senior Rob Hoffman.

“Josiah and James Fragale will see time in the post,” said McLean. “Nick Darenkov is every inch of 6’4. We don’t have a small team; Cody, Zaire, and Robby are all 6’2. We have made great strides in practice and I think we will continue to develop as the season goes on.”

McLean believes the Panthers can develop into a competitive squad by the time postseason play comes around.

“It might be tough for us early on, Conwell, Egan, and Pennington will be two of the toughest teams we play,” said McLean.

“I think we will play our best basketball in February and that is all a coach can ask. There is a lot of room for growth. The attitude in practice has been outstanding. Consistent with other teams we have had, this is a group of great kids who want to learn and get better.”