It could be fair to assume that Freedom's basketball team may be in full blown rebuilding mode heading into this season. Or you can make the case that the Patriots and head coach Joe Stellato are in learning form.

The Pates are coming off an 8-14 season last year and return a roster void of any top scorers from a year ago.

Freedom is also light on experience heading into Stellato's 15th year overall of coaching.

To say that this season may be a trial by fire episode on any given night, may not be too far fetched.

"We have some returning players, but none of them averaged over four points a game last year," said Stellato. "We're very athletic and need to play a full court game. We need to use pressure defense to get easy baskets and get into the open floor. We need our seniors to step up and our young guys need to take a large role for us to have success."

Returning for the Patriots include seniors Jason Fraser (sr.), Jeff Toronto (sr.), KJ Pretty (sr.), Bryant Connor (sr.), Tulio Santiago (sr.) and Demond Farley (sr.). New players in the fold include Najee Cash (jr.), Nick King (so.), Daevon Quick (so.), Lewis Hargett (so.), Khory Smith (jr.) and Jose Rivera (jr.).

Fraser, Farley and King are three that Stellato targets as players to watch for this season, but it appears that the Patriots are a team that will rely on a group effort this season if they want to have a chance to succeed in the newly formed East Penn Conference.

"We are looking at improving all year and make it into the district playoffs," Stellato said. "To do this, we need to play a full court game, with pressure defense."