There was a point at the end of the season where RDC Kings basketball head coach Craig Behan talked about taking a year off to relax.
But after a few weeks off Behan appears ready for next season.
“I feel enthused and optimistic about next year,” he said during his ID camp at RDC Saturday afternoon. “Right now I can’t say what kind of team we’ll have as we could have a very solid nucleus returning, or a good group of newcomers. We’ll know in the next couple of weeks.”
Behan could have as many as 10 returnees, depending on how their schooling works out.
“We expect not to have some of the guys back and they’ll be missed,” he said. “But what we need, and want, to do is bring in guys who are true student athletes. This year that was subpar and some of that was my fault. I need to do a better job in maintaining that.
“We want to bring in guys who love the game and want to maintain their marks.”
Behan could have the majority of his veterans back. Those include Lloyd Strickland, Eric Bakker, Eddie Sanchez-Caba, Terrell Campbell, Jason David, Sean Giscombe, Jordan Stevens. Tyler Nygren, Beau Pocza and possibly Chris Porteous.
“Chris is a little bit up in the air, but we really hope he comes back,” said Behan. “He’s a big part of our team and would be a leader next season.”
Behan had around 25 players on hand for the camp Saturday, including former Mount Royal University guard Kendall Boese of Three Hills.
“Kendall played two years with Mount Royal and can play either point or shooting guard,” explained Behan. “I don’t think there’s any doubt he’ll start for us next season.”
There were a few others who caught Behan’s eye during the camp.
Behan mentioned guards Dominic Perri of St. Francis Xavier of Edmonton, Adam Glover, who played two years ago at Hunting Hills, and Pedro Porto-Alegre of Hunting Hills along with a pair of six-foot-four forwards — Taylor Foreman of Camrose and Ryan Clark of Lindsay Thurber.
“We have six of seven others who we’ve been in contact with, but couldn’t make it today,” said Behan. “They’re all legitimate college or university players.”
One such player is former RDC guard Adam Shaw, who was in Red Deer but took the season off.
“He’s considering coming back and we hope he does,” Behan said.
The camp was open to all Grade 12s, something Behan tried for the first time.
“It was something new as we wanted to give the guys to may have been overlooked an opportunity to come out and show what they got against some of our returnees and recruits,” he said. “It was good in that there was no pressure on anyone.”
Two members of the Hunting Hills Lightning who Behan is interested in — Chris Karambamuchero and Jared Ruston — weren’t on hand.
Behan is also interested in finding a couple more big men.
“We’re working on a couple of post players and we should know what their status is shortly,” he concluded.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com