Hamilton Southeastern High School boys basketball coach Brian Satterfield picked up a coaching strategy while at a camp at Ohio University this summer from coach John Groce .

Groce, a former Butler and Ohio State assistant, and his staff grade each of the players on the roster every practice.

While Satterfield doesn’t have a large enough staff to grade everything a player does, he plans to evaluate each in every five-on-five and four-on-four setting and post the grades for the players to see.

“It’s a good way to for them to see how they are doing,” Satterfield said.

Every bit of progress will help with a daunting nonconference schedule and nine games in the rugged Hoosier Crossroads Conference.

The Royals expect to again be near the top of the league despite the graduation of 6-foot-7 Charlie Duffy .

Duffy averaged 12.8 points and 9.3 rebounds as the Royals, who finished 15-8, captured the program’s first sectional championship with impressive wins over Noblesville and Carmel.

Satterfield has reason to be optimistic this season. Seven of the top 10 players are back, including Zach Starr , a 6-1 senior, who averaged 11.6 points as a junior.

“I think I’ll have a lot of the same role as last year,” Starr said. “We’re obviously going to miss (Duffy) because he was a great player, but we’re pretty confident that we have other guys who can step in get some rebounds for us and fill Charlie’s shoes. Our chemistry is still there from last year.”

Tyler Wheeler , a 6-3 senior forward, will be another key piece to the puzzle. Wheeler broke his wrist and missed much of the summer but is back to full strength.

The senior class also includes 6-footer Cameron Olson , 6-3 forward Will Kleinrichert and 6-7 forward Dzenan Mrkaljevic , who has added some bulk to his frame since last year. Randy Gregory , a 6-4 junior who plays defensive line on the football team, also will help on the interior.

Another player who stars in both football and basketball is sophomore Gary Harris . A 6-3 guard, Harris turned 15 in September but already is attracting interest from a number of Division I schools. He is a rare athletic talent who fits into the scheme and has the respect of his senior teammates.

“I’m excited to see how he develops, even beyond high school and into college,” Wheeler said. “He’s a great defender and a great scorer. He’s a big-time playmaker and one of the most athletic people I’ve ever seen play. It’s ridiculous how good he’s going to be.”

Another sophomore who will see time in the rotation is 5-9 guard Jacobby Bledsoe .

It’s a good mix of veterans and young talent. Satterfield said the question marks as he approaches Tuesday’s opener at in-town rival Fishers revolve around defense and rebounding.

Hamilton Southeastern boys basketball at a glance

Last season: 15-8, lost in regional semifinals.

Key losses: Charlie Duffy, Tim Dather.

Key returners: Zach Starr, Tyler Wheeler, Will Kleinrichert, Dzenan Mrkaljevic, Gary Harris.

Key newcomers: Cameron Olson, Randy Gregory, Jacobby Bledsoe.

Schedule

Tuesday — at Fishers, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 28 — at Northwest, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 4 — at Mount Vernon, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 5 — Pendleton Hts., 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 11 — Noblesville, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 18 — Zionsville, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 19 — at North Central, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 30 — Huntington North Classic

Jan. 8 — at Harrison, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 — Muncie Central, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 — at Brownsburg, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 — Avon, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 — at Lawrence Central, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 29 — McCutcheon, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 5 — New Palestine, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 10 — Carmel, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 — at Pike, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 19 — at Westfield, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 25 — Lafayette Jeff, 7:30 p.m.Schedule