After a heartbreaking loss in the District Finals last season, the CA boys basketball team is looking for revenge this year.
The Vikings finished with a 19-8 overall record in 2016, but are hungry for even more success. Losing four valuable seniors will be tough, but Academy has a squad full of players that are ready to step into a larger role. Led by senior captains Addis Boyd, Ryan Mitchell, and TJ Whitman, the Vikes seem poised to make another run at a District title this season.
Roster:
Addis Boyd’18
Davis Friedman’18
Karibi Hart’18
Ryan Mitchell’18
Herman Moultrie’18
TJ Whitman’18
Chris Boyle’19
Hayden Compton’19
Dalyn DeCree’19
Malcolm Klingbeil’19
Dorrian Moultrie’19
Carter Warstler’20
Boyd is an undersized center, but more than makes up for it with the physicality and fire he plays with. Friedman is a solid defender and will also look to provide a scoring spark off the bench. Hart is an incredible athlete and gives his team a boost of energy every time he steps on the court. Mitchell is a fantastic passer and a great shooter. Moultrie’18 is an elite athlete, and a lockdown defender. Whitman is a dangerous scorer, and can catch fire at any moment. Boyle is a gifted athlete, and the Preseason 1st-Team All-Central Ohio power forward is one of CA’s most valuable players on both ends. Compton is an athletic forward who can muscle his way to the basket at will. DeCree does his work in the paint, and is a strong scorer and rebounder. Klingbeil is a wiry rim protector, but will unfortunately miss the season with an injury. Moultrie’19, named to the Preseason 3rd-Team All-Central Ohio, is a star on both ends of the court and Academy’s primary ball handler. Finally, Warstler is an impressive sophomore who is developing into a great shooter and passer.
The Vikings have played a pair of scrimmages thus far, tying both Mifflin on Tuesday, November 14, and Granville on Friday, November 17. Moultrie’19 said, “We’ve been looking good. We’ve been scrimmaging higher division teams to challenge ourselves and been playing toe-to-toe with them.”
As for Academy’s expectations this year, he said, “Our goal for this year would be to pick up where we left off last year. We made it to the District Finals last year, and this year we not only want to get there, but to win that game. We have a tough non-conference schedule this year, playing prep schools out of Chicago and Cleveland. Along with that, our league play is always tough, but we’re ready for the challenge.”
The Vikes travel to University School on Friday, December 1, for their season opener.
