However, the Knights are extremely optimistic in what the future holds.  "We’re excited to see what this group can accomplish,” said head coach Kraig Hunter, entering his 23rd season. “Graduating eight seniors opens up a lot of opportunities for our team, but we are confident in the guys that are stepping into those roles this season. We have a great group of guys who have worked extremely hard to develop and be ready to go when they get their varsity opportunities. This group has a lot of potential. They are hard workers who have a passion for the game. They have a good feel for the game with a high basketball IQ and they play good defense.”

“This will be a much different type of team.  For the first time in a few years we will have less bulk, but more length, overall speed, and multiple people who can shoot the ball. This group is also unselfish and very team-oriented.  Even though we will have some new faces, we always have the goal to be competing for conference and section championships.  We will have to be sound defensively and look to be aggressive on offense,” concluded Coach Hunter. 

Players with the most experience returning are Jack VanKempen (6’5 Jr), who cracked the starting line up in the latter part of the season last year.  Jacob Bright (5’8 Jr); who has seen varsity minutes in both the past two seasons.  Teigen Moritz (6’3 Sr) and Grant Beuckens (5’10 Soph) both saw some varsity minutes last year.   Gavin Paulson (6’1 Sr), Blake Koloski (5’11 Jr), Gage Staples (6’5 Jr) – injured last season, and Tate Christenson (6’1 Soph) were all members of the varsity last year that the coaching staff feels will be major contributors this year.

Others competing for varsity spots will be Louis Bell (5’10 Jr), Brady Reeve (6’2 Soph), Kyle Schill (5’11 Soph), Xander Bontjes (5’11 Soph), Braedon Blondeau (6’2 Soph), and Ryder Staples (6’2 Freshmen).

Hunter feels the level of boys’ basketball in the area will be as deep as ever.  “None of Ortonville, Wheaton, or Ashby had any seniors on their teams last year.  Hancock graduated a very good senior but the rest of their outstanding team, plus a very good JV team all returns.  Parkers Prairie returns NDSU bound Travis Yohnke , 6’6 Josh Helling along with a host of other good players in their junior and senior classes.  Battle Lake, a perennial power, will be led by Nick VanErp.  Underwood possesses a team with a lot of size.  Brandon-Evansville has a very talented junior class.”

"Ortonville is the definite favorite in our half as they are in the pre-season state “Top 15” and did well this summer against a lot of the bigger city schools," noted Hunter. "Our schedule will be extremely competitive this year.  Besides these sub-section teams, we have added another state ranked team to our schedule in Norman County East, the favorite of the North Sub-Section, and we will be playing some powerhouse Class AA schools in Morris, Osakis, Long Prairie, and Warroad."

Brian Kjesbo, Jon Nelson and Brad Westrom will assist Hunter.