Six players moved on to the Division I collegiate ranks from last year's Tri-Eight Conference squads alone, headlined by Panther Creek alum (and current Auburn Tiger) Earnest Ross. Ross was one of three Division I players on the 28-3 Catamounts. Twins Marques and Brandon Oliver now play for Delaware State.

Even Panther Creek's coach left for the college ranks, when 2008 Tri-Eight Coach of the Year L.J. Hepp accepted a position as director of basketball operations at the University of South Carolina.

Middle Creek saw all-time leading scorer Garrius Adams move on to the ACC (Miami) and its all-time leader in 3-points Tom Tankelewicz to Charleston Southern.

Athens Drive alum Josh Davis, who led all area scorers with 25.4 points per game, now plays at N.C. State.

Indeed, turnover is the buzzword for this year's local boys' basketball teams.

Panther Creek

Last year: 28-3

Four starters, five reserves and the head coach are all gone from last year's team that swept the regular season and conference tournament championships.

New coach Travis Chapman was promoted from assistant, where Hepp credited him for designing the defensive schemes that made the Catamounts nearly unstoppable a year ago.

Chapman's first team will be guard-heavy as Isaiah Johnson and Javohnte Rankin return and former Green Hope point guard Kameron Bryant transferred in.

After boasting the tallest team in the league last year with five players at 6-5 or taller, the Catamounts will be one of the smallest this year.

Athens Drive

Last year: 22-6

The Jaguars spent most of last year ranked in the top 10 in the state, including a 13-0 start. Davis might've been one of the best to suit up for Athens, averaging more than 25 points and eight rebounds per game last year.

But coach Robert Clemons won't just be replacing him -- the Jags will have to replace all five starters from a year ago.

Rob Crisp and his 6-foot-8, 320-pound frame transferred in, but he's expected to graduate in the fall semester to enroll at N.C. State for football.

The leading returning scorer is guard Rahim Jenkins, who chipped in 3.5 points per game last season.

Middle Creek

Last year: 20-7

When the Mustangs graduated Division I recruit Marcus Kitts in 2007, two new Division I recruits emerged.

So with Adams and Tankelewicz now gone, Middle Creek must again find the next generation to keep the success rolling.

Last season, the Mustangs were often the subject of "junk"defenses like the box-and-one and triangle-and-two as opponents tried to force others to contribute.

Players Leon Hargrove, Jon Moore, Stephen McAllister and Garrett Leatham all showed flashes, but were all too young to be counted on consistently.

That shouldn't be a problem this year as coach David Kushner will return all four, with only McAllister a senior. Although Adams and Tankelewicz will be missed, the Mustangs' program should keep on ticking as it did when it lost its first Division I recruit.

Cary Academy:

Last year: 18-1

In his first year at the helm, coach Kenny Inge led the Chargers to their first NCISSA playoff berth since 2001.

With Triangle Independent School Athletic Conference rival Ravenscroft losing the likes of McDonald's All-American Ryan Kelly (now at Duke), Cary Academy has at least a chance to improve last year's second-place conference finish.

The Chargers themselves have to replace three senior starters, but will return first-team All-Conference selection in junior point guard Cameron Walton.

Apex

Last year: 14-12

While the rest of the Tri-Nine Conference is busy trying to replace leading scorers and multiple starters, Apex is the only 2008-09 playoff team that returns a majority of its key contributors from last year. That alone should make the Cougars the team to beat in this year's conference race.

During the summer, coach Dave Neal's team won a team camp at UNC-Wilmington, and did so without leading scorer Weston Murphy.

Murphy, a senior forward drawing interest from Ivy League schools, was the only non-senior on the Tri-Eight all-conference first team last year, and he'll look to improve upon last year's performance.

While it should be hard to replace heady point guard Adam Perry, guards Connor Belicic and Sunil Ram should each supply enough at the position to compensate.

Senior Mike Fogg, typically the first player off the bench last year, had a breakout summer and should be a factor for the Cougars.

Being a better road team will be key for Apex, as 10 of their 14 wins came at home.

Cary Christian

Last year: 10-17

Ignore the overall record for the Knights and consider that they won six of eight conference games and were a quarter away from winning the Eastern Plains Independent Conference title.

The road has been paved for this to be the year the Knights make a run at the conference championship, as defending champ St.David's must replace EPIC Player of the Year Gabe Rooth.

Junior sharpshooter Lindsey Johnson (13.7 points per game last year) leads the way for an experienced Knights roster. Johnson opened the season on Nov. 10 with a game-high 27 points against Lighthouse Homeschool.

Green Hope

Last year: 9-17

If you had seen the Falcons' final game of the 08-09 season against Garner, a 75-74 overtime loss, you'd have sworn this team would contend for a conference championship this year.

However, a topsy-turvy off-season full of attrition leaves this a rebuilding year for coach Mickey Bissette. Three starters have graduated, while the other two now attend Panther Creek and Southwest Wake Academy.

Green Hope won't be short on youth, as members of last year's junior varsity conference championship team will be called upon early to fill the void.

Junior forward Max Povse dominated on the junior varsity level, and even scored 17 in his only varsity game last year. Transfer forward Tariq Forte could contribute heavily, but is ineligible for the first semester.

Holly Springs

Last year: 7-18

Two of the Golden Hawks' seven wins last year came against existing Tri-Nine members while Holly Springs was still a member of the Greater Neuse Conference.

While the Hawks did lose key senior starters, the return of junior Quinton Underwood should give the team one of the most athletic forwards in the Tri-Nine Conference.

Cary High

Last year: 4-20

Chemistry was an issue for the Imps last year. Whether or not that's been addressed could affect how this year turns out for coach Allan Gustafson's team.

Less bickering on the bench between teammates could equate to more wins, as Cary came within single digits of defeating five different playoff teams in 08-09.

Inside-outside threat Austin Brannen (7.4 ppg) is the leading returning scorer, but won't be alone on a talented roster that could surprise some this year -- but only if it's a cohesive unit.

Fuquay-Varina

Last year: 0-24* (forfeited three wins due to ineligible player)

The Bengals return as much experience as any team in the conference. However, it wasn't a good experience for any member of Fuquay's team as it struggled to three victories that were all vacated for use of an ineligible player.

Junior Dominique Byrd is a high-flying athlete who will try to lead Fuquay to a better finish in a weaker conference.