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Phillips Academy Boys Basketball Preview

2006-07 record: 13-7, did not qualify for New England Prep tourney

Returning starters (2): Mike Palermo, 6-0, Sr., guard, Andover; Brian Watson, 6-4, Sr., forward

Returning lettermen: Same as above

Newcomers: Khalid McCaskill, 6-3, Soph., guard; Brian Russell, 6-0, Jr., guard, Andover; Tom Lavin, 6-4, postgrad, forward; Luke Miller, 6-4, postgrad, center; Menelick Washington, 6-0, Jr., guard; Matt Jeffries, 5-8, postgrad, guard; Robert Vardaro, 6-5, Soph., center, North Reading; Tyler Bond, 6-4, Soph., forward, Andover; Tom Hamel, 6-7, Soph., center, Methuen; Eddie Muniz, 5-9, Sr., guard; Dan Evans, 6-2, postgrad, guard

Candidates in all grades: 62

Captains: Mike Palermo, Brian Watson Returning leaders: Mike Palermo, 6.6 ppg; Brian Watson, 2.0 ppg

Returning honorees: Mike Palermo, Eagle-Tribune honorable mention

Assistants: Dan Schneider

Odds and ends: Phillips started the season 0-2, but it was up against two of the best teams it will face all year in Cushing Academy and Tilton. ... Andover's Mike Palermo hit .362 for the Big Blue's New England Prep championship baseball squad last spring. ... The winning record was Phillips' first since the 11-10 2001-02 team. ... Thirteen wins was the most since the 21-3 put up by the 1995-96 club. ... This year's team is one of the most inexperienced in coach Leon Modeste's 21 years.

Coach Leon Modeste (21st year): "We don't have a lot of experience, especially up front, so we're going to run, run, run. We're going to use everyone and substitute more like a hockey team. A good accomplishment would be to be competitive, and it'd be great to have a winning season, which we can have if we stick together. Tom Lavin (ex-Oliver Ames standout) is going to be our go-to guy. We'll need points from him and our backcourt."