LEOPOLD TAKES ON YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE

A glance at his Wildcats paints a pretty accurate picture of what Leopold basketball coach Carlton Thoma faces this season.

"At times," Thoma said, "we look a little scrawny. We look young."

For this team, looks don't deceive.

"You can say we're going to be really young and inexperienced. We may have to use a lot of Band-Aids to keep us taped up this year," Thoma quipped.

Leopold, which went 10-14 last year, lost all five of last year's starters, including honorable mention all-district selection Matt Beussink, to graduation. The Wildcats lost seven seniors in all.

This year's edition of the Wildcats has only one senior, the only returnee who received any significant varsity action last season.

"John Vandeven, the senior, he's going to be a leader for us," said Thoma. "He leads vocally and he leads with his work ethic, and I think he's a fine example for the rest of the players."

While Vandeven likely has a slot in the starting lineup secured, the remaining spots are still open.

"Right now it's a tossup," Thoma said. "I've got a lot of kids that are pretty equal right now."

Thoma said 6-foot-4 Donnie Landewee and 6-2 Brian Holzum, both juniors, will probably be counted on for production. Matt Nanney, a 5-9 junior, is probably the team's best shooter.

The other juniors are Alan Beussink, Junior Smith and Charles Dunn, each 6-0.

Four sophomores -- 5-11 Jason Vandeven, 6-0 Garan England, 6-2 Adam Horrell and 6-0 Lee VanderMierden -- will complete the varsity squad.

"I expect a couple of these sophomores to step up and play," Thoma said. "Jason Vandeven is going to develop into a nice ball player. And the other three sophomores I feel like are varsity material.

"If I had more seniors, I probably wouldn't move all of these sophomores up. They're going to get thrown into the fire, whether they can get the job done or not."

While Leopold may have no physical strengths, the Wildcats already are learning that they may have to rely on intangibles.

"The kids are working really hard and I'm really impressed with them," Thoma said. "That always makes you feel good. You expect good things to happen whenever they work hard.

"We going to compete, I don't think there's any doubt about that. Now how well we compete, that's another question. If we could match last year's record, I'd be probably pretty happy. With such a young team, and no varsity starters back, that's asking a lot of our team."