Austin Hanson

The Eisenhower boys basketball team will be looking for big improvement this season as it returns an experienced squad.

Knights head coach Ryan Mangini, who will be starting his fifth season at the helm, is excited about this year’s team.

“We have a group that understands basketball and picks things up quickly,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence in this group of guys.”

Eisenhower brings back three starters from last year’s team, which posted a 14-10 overall record and 5-2 region mark. Junior Austin Hanson, seniors Gavin Lindemuth and Derek Guiher and junior Rylan Benton, a former Youngsville standout, will bring an exciting backcourt to the knights.

The Knights lost Casey Seymour and Jaydon Chase to graduation, but will be bringing up a strong group of players to help. Expected to push for varsity minutes and possibly a starting spot will be senior Hudson Haight, juniors Gavin Reynolds and Will Mandeville and freshmen Kymani Vine, Liam Hanson and Paul Mandeville.

A challenging schedule will include games against General McLane, Sharon and Erie First Christian in addition to the region opponents.

The addition of seven players from Youngsville has been a smooth transition, according to Mangini.

“All of the guys are fitting in well and working hard,” he said. “They have added a lot of competitiveness to our practices.”

Eisenhower will have two players within reach of joining the 1,000-point club in Hanson and Benton to go along with sharpshooter Guiher.

“I think this team does a good job of finding each other,” Mangini said. “We try to preach creating instead of scoring, and making the right play when help is thrown at you. I don’t see it being a problem at all with this team.”