Get things done camp

The 2008-09 Ottawa High School boys basketball team will be much different than coach Jon McKowen’s first team.

Gone are the nine seniors. There will be only three players who even suited for varsity games.

The summer is a critical time for development of next year’s squad. Many of the players will be playing in summer leagues and tournaments.

McKowen expects many of the players to play nearly 40 games this summer in preparation for the season.

The start of the summer season was this week’s team camp. This year’s team camp is like night and day from last year’s when McKowen was just trying to find out the names of his players.

“It is a lot different,” McKowen, who guided the Cyclones to a 16-6 mark and state berth in his first season, said. “This is not a get-to-know you camp. It is a more of a get things done.

“We are learning new concepts. We feel a lot more ahead of the game.”

 The returning players have a year in McKowen’s system at the junior varsity level. The coach said he is not having to introduce the basic concepts of his system.

“It makes it for a more relaxed atmosphere,” McKowen said. “We are excited about the new challenge. The expectations are different. We want to move our program [forward]. Our focus is on having a better season. Get back to the state tournament and win a game.”

All positions — from starters to reserves — are up for grabs, except the point guard spot. Sophomore Adam Hasty will take over the starting point guard position. He is the only player returning who had significant varsity minutes.

Seniors Jake Moore and Chase Dengel were the other two varsity returners.

“We don’t have many returners that traveled with us,” McKowen said. “They are all excited about playing varsity basketball.”

Because of the makeup of the squad, McKowen said the strengths will be different.

“Our offense will be opened up quite a bit,” he said. “We will still be playing to our strengths: speed, shooting and defensive intensity. We will be a controlled basketball team. We will do it in a lot of different ways.”

Greg Mast can be reached at sports@ottawaherald.com.