Open Gym Notebook: Cardinal Ritter
This Fall we are making the rounds, checking in on some of the better teams around the state and trying to keep up on the changes heading towards the high school season. Our open gym looks give us a look at those teams and players with what has changed, what stayed the same, and what to expect. Today, we look at Cardinal Ritter.
Additions: N/A
Losses: Miles Tracy (Grad), Shelby Turner (Grad), Tharran Cook (Grad), Nehemiah Jones (Transfer)
Returning Players Of Note: Marlon Anderson (Sr. Guard), Dan Bayler (Sr. Wing), Nate Soltis (Sr. Post), Joey Gruber (Sr. Wing)
Overview: Cardinal Ritter is coming off a really good season with a stacked varsity group but now they are regrouping a bit and will be trying to bring some of those younger players along as best they can.
They have Nate Soltis coming back and will be an Indiana All-Star level player in the class and on this team. He should be a near double-double each time on the floor and will give that leadership and consistency to this team.
Add in guys like Marlon Anderson and Dan Bayler and Joey Gruber and you have some guys that could really step up in their roles from last year and help out. All will be asked more of than ever before so that will be interesting to see how they do. Anderson has the easiest step forward but Gruber could be the more impactful as a shooter with some size on the perimeter.
This season could go a number of ways for Ritter as 3A and specifically their sectional are very difficult. Teams like Brebeuf Jesuit, Crispus Attucks, Beech Grove, and others will be tough to navigate but if the perimeter players can find their groove and provide some offense, consistently, they could sneak in a solid season and compete in a paired down Sectional.
Potential Starting Lineup:
Marlon Anderson – 5’11 G Sr.
Dan Bayler – 6’0 G Sr.
Joey Gruber – 6’3 W Sr.
Nate Soltis – 6’6 P Sr.
Damon Ogletree – 6’4 W Jr.