The Randolph Boys Basketball team is hungry for a great 2023-2024 season. Following the graduation of an impactful senior class in June, the current team is looking to bounce back after last year’s underwhelming 11-15 season.

“We plan on having a ‘next man up’ mentality,” senior co-captain Ryan Kress said. “This year throughout practices we’ve been competing every day.”

Despite only having 11 wins last season, the Rams lost six games by only four or fewer points. They fell short in the first round of the state rivalry against Mendham, losing 50-39.

“Although we don’t really have much size, we make up for it with our aggression,” senior co-captain Rocco Albano stated. “Also, we have the mindset that we are going to run through everyone.”

The Rams lost their top two rebounders, Jake Jenisch and Sean Clark, to graduation last June. Despite that, Kress, the top scorer, shooter and passer, is returning. He topped off last season with 428 points, 85 assists and 71 3-pointers made.

Albano is also a returning force, leading the team in steals and blocks last season.

“A big change has to be our decision-making late in the fourth quarter,” Kress stated. “Trusting each other to hit shots throughout the duration of the game is going to be what makes or breaks games that are decided by a possession.”

Further returning players include seniors Joey Errico, Andrew Taurman and Jake Miller; junior Vincent LoVerde and sophomores Tristan Durkin and Jack Leonard. New add-ons to the squad are seniors Josh Graves and Derek Hines, juniors Philip Zamloot and Max Ezra and freshman Andrei Nitulescu.

“We’re a much younger group,” said Kress, regarding the team’s level of experience. “Getting underclassmen used to the pace of basketball that we play and talking them through the mental side is something that will help our group this year.”

The Rams start their season at Sparta High School on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.