Nate Walpole will be the key player for Whitko this season. (File photo by Mike Deak)

SOUTH WHITLEY — There is plenty of intrigue surrounding the Whitko boys basketball team this season. The Wildcats welcome back a host of talented players from last year’s 14-10 squad as well as welcome in a new head coach in Eli Henson. With the right pieces back for Whitko, Henson hopes to make this season a memorable one in South Whitley.

For the past five seasons Henson has served as the head coach at North White, winning a sectional title in 2014. He steps into a good situation with a Whitko team that is in the middle of an upswing. Henson’s father, Dave, coached the Wildcats from 1995-97, winning a sectional title in his first season. Henson will look to do the same in year one. According to the coach, things are already on the right track following a successful offseason.

“Being around the team all summer and this fall has really made this transition a good one,” Henson stated. “Being able to spend that much time with the team has allowed me to create a relationship with each player. The players know what my expectations are from them and they have responded well to them. They’ve all put in a lot of time this summer and fall to get better.”

Henson has a huge bonus with taking over this program in inheriting two stellar scorers in Nate Walpole and River West. Walpole was one of the state’s most elite scorers in 2015-16, averaging 27.3 points per game during the regular season. Additionally, Walpole also had per game average of six assists and 4.4 rebounds. The now-senior hit 70 threes during his junior campaign. West, meanwhile, averaged 15.5 points per game to offer a great scoring compliment to Walpole’s efforts.

“It’s always nice to step into a coaching job where you have players returning that can score like Nate and River,” explained Henson. “Nate is a very good player and I think he will have a great year this year. He is a great example of what it takes to be successful. He spends countless hours in the gym and is constantly working on improving his game. I think he will do a great job this year at making those around him better on the court.

“River has had a great summer and fall and has really progressed into a great player. He will be asked to take on even more of a role than he had last year. He is probably the best shooter I have had the opportunity to coach. He has been working on getting better at other areas of his game and people will see those improvements this year on the court.”

But the cupboard is far from empty after Walpole and West. Roger Fleetwood, last year’s head coach who took a job back home at Owen Valley, left the program in good shape with well-developed players. Henson has made a seamless transition with those player progressions to this point and is ready to turn them loose on the court.

“Spencer Sroufe will be asked to expand his role on our team this year. He is a 6’6″ sophomore that is extremely athletic and one that can impact the game on both ends of the court,” Henson said of the team’s potential breakout player. “He is a big that can play inside but also step out and stretch defenses out by being able to knock down threes.

“Alex Robbins, Colin Craig, and Alex Bechtold will also play very important parts this year. All three are seniors and are ready to take on a role that they are not used to. I feel that they will be able to respond to the expanded role in a positive way that will help our team succeed. Robbins is a good knock down three-point shooter, Bechtold brings a lot of energy to our team on offense and especially on defense, and Craig will provide some toughness, rebounding, and be asked to be a defensive presence for us.”

Whitko posted a 6-3 record in the Three Rivers Conference last season and expects to challenge for the top spot this year. Henson mentioned that he sees the conference races being very open going into the season with specific mention of Southwood, Maconaquah and Peru as possible teams to beat.

The Wildcats had their season cut short by losing to Westview in last year’s sectional, 50-46. That young Wesview squad is now a year older and will host the sectional this year.

“It is important that we are playing our best basketball in February and March,” said Henson. “I am not concerned about how we start the season off only how we finish the season. Our goal each year will be to win a sectional championship, but at the same time I do not think winning a sectional championship will define whether or not our season was successful.”

Whitko opens its season Wednesday night at Columbia City.