Ron Reed hopes his third year is the charm.

The third-year Ohio University Southern Trailblazers men's basketball coach thinks this could be his best team yet.

"We're more talented than the first two years that I was here, but we're still as young as we've been. Most of them could still be playing high school basketball," Reed said.

Returning from last year's 9-16 team are senior forward Joe Fraley and sophomore center Brandon Raeuchle.

"Joe is a good leader. He is one of the most respected people on campus," Reed said. "The best thing about him is he understands the importance of team."

Reed hopes players like Shawn Newsome of Allen Central, Travis Kielmar of Portsmouth Clay and Max Hunter of Boyd County can make an impact.

Fraley, Raeuchle, Newsome, Kielmar, and freshman Earl Willis, a freshman from Wendell Phillips Academy in Chicago where he averaged 25.7 points a game, should comprise the starting lineup.

"Willis played at one of the smaller divisions in the Chicago area and this is truly different from what he is used to. I think this is a good opportunity for Earl," Reed said.

The 6-foot-7 Kielmar average 18 points and 12 rebounds as he led Clay to the district tournament in Division IV last season. Newsome led the state of Kentucky with a 32.0 scoring average and was third team all-state.

At 6-6, 240, Hunter should add bulk and strength inside.

"Max will get a lot of playing time. He just turned 18, so he's just a baby. He has to learn to play against bigger people," Reed said.

The Trailblazers lost two players before the season began, so Reed may be counting on two former Lawrence County standouts to contribute. Greg Colburn, a 6-4 forward from Fairland, and 6-5 Brandon Runyon of Symmes Valley, will be needed to contribute inside.

Former Ashland star Mark Surgalski practiced with the team for a few weeks but decided to save his eligibility for the NCAA. Colt Messer, who was an All-Area player at East Carter, Ky., also left the team.

"They changed the rule, and if Mark would have played, he would have lost a year of eligibility," Reed said.

Despite the early problems, Reed remains optimistic.

"I'm just eager to see how much we can improve," Reed said.

OUSC will face a difficult schedule that includes several NAIA powers including Pikeville College, West Virginia State, Shawnee State, and Kentucky Christian College.

"For a school like us, it really is too difficult of a schedule," said Reed who does not have the advantage of scholarships. "But it helps our kids to be seen and may earn scholarships to bigger schools. If we don't compete with the teams in our classification, I would be disappointed."