2013-14 record: 5-14, 8-15
Coach: Al Moraz Jr.
Top players: Seniors Dakwonte Avery Ron Carter (F); juniors Andre Brodnax (G), David Clark (G), Kevin Duckett (G) and Terrell Lamar (G).
What you need to know: The Lightning took a step back last year after finishing five games above .500 two seasons ago. The goal is to get back into that upper third of the county standings and a lot of the load will be on the broad shoulders of big man Ron Carter.
"We're definitely deeper than we were last year, but we're going to go as Ron goes. He's our leader," said coach Al Moraz Jr. "He's been really working and pushing the guys each day in practice. The more touches we can get him, both as a scorer and a distributor, the better we will be."
While Carter is certainly expected to push his scoring average into double digits, Moraz says it won't be just one guy making up the points per game lost due to the graduation of leading scorer Shane Barr (14.9 ppg). Instead it will be the team's large junior class — nine guys deep — that will be asked to collectively replace the production.
Lamar is a prime candidate to step into the spotlight after he averaged over nine points a game over the final 15 contests last winter. Clark and Duckett, though, also are proven scorers that have double-digit scoring efforts on their resumes.
The wild card may be Avery, who is a transfer over from Howard that averaged more than eight points and five rebounds a game last year for the Lions. He gives the team another presence on the inside opposite Carter. Other guys to keep an eye on are Brodnax and junior Ryan Menusan, who is a workhorse on the interior.