District and PIAA classification: 3-AAA
Head coach: Jeff Hoke (6th season at McDevitt, 65-57; 8th season overall).
2012-13 record: 19-8 overall, 10-6 in Mid-Penn Keystone Division. Finished fifth in District 3-AAA tournament. Lost to Neumann-Goretti in opening round of PIAA Class AAA playoffs.
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Players: Justin McCarthur, 6-0 sr G
Dyllon Hudson-Emory, 6-6 sr F
Milik Gantz, 6-3 jr G
Caleb Barwin, 6-3 sr G
Donte Vaughn, 6-0 sr G
Mark Ray, 6-2 jr G/F
James Williams, 6-3 so F
Back-door cuts: Sporting a remarkably mobile outfit and a squadron of jump shooters firmly in place — all five starters return from last year’s run to the state playoffs — Hoke’s sixth Crusaders club wants to burn up and down the court at a high-octane, high-tempo pace. With the multi-talented Gantz at the controls and leading the break and quality finishers all over the place, McDevitt should not have any issues scoring the basketball. The big question is can the Crusaders handle multiple physical presences on the blocks, which may be a nightly issue in a loaded Keystone. If McDevitt can neutralize power down low with its speed and quicks, results figure to pile up. Lots of quality talent at 1 Crusader Way, but McCarthur is a physical handful who is equally effective at both ends of the floor.
Projected order of finish: 2ndof 9.
First game: Friday, Dec. 6 vs. Eastern York in Central York Tip-Off Tournament. 6 p.m. start.
First home game: Friday, Dec. 13 vs. Lower Dauphin. 7:30 tip.