If you’ve ever tried putting together a jigsaw puzzle without the picture on the lid of the box, you’ll have some idea of what most CABL coaches will be feeling like putting together their scouting reports this season.

Uncertain.

The reason for this air of speculation is a wave of talented youth crashing onto the CABL scene. Multiple clubs will be hoping for more of the glimpses of potential shown by their promising juniors last year. With five of the six players featured having played in the bronze-medal-winning SA Under 20 team back in February, coaches and fans alike will be eager to see if their success can be translated from the brightest stage of junior basketball in Australia to the senior level.

Among the eight Sturt juniors having been promoted to the seniors list to replenish their depleted stocks are talented guards Sam Daly and Hamish Burns. Both are expected to fill key roles for the Sabres this season, after getting a taste of CABL action last year. Burns, an aggressive slasher and tough defender describes the challenge of his role this season as having extended to improving his perimeter shooting in an attempt to fill the 17.8ppg void left by three-point specialist and 36er Darren Ng.

“Just trying to spread the floor while [Daly] is driving and knock down the open shot, that’ll be a big part of my job this year,” says Burns. “Bringing energy every night, and picking up the slack where I can from three of our main guys leaving is my main role this season.”

Meanwhile, the smooth-moving Daly has been training with the 36ers squad over the summer as part of his preparation to take over from big brother Tom’s starting role this year, last year’s Woollacott medallist choosing to pursue a contract with Mount Gambier in the SEABL this season.

“The fact that he’s gone leaves me with a whole lot of minutes that I wouldn’t have normally had with the more experienced guys around…it’s a lot of responsibility,” says Daly.

But defenders will have their hands just as full with the younger model, who at 190cm averaged 7.3 points and 2.6 assists last season, boasting a rare combination of size, athleticism and smarts at the point guard position.

“Sam will start at the one spot for us this season … he’s got a good skill-set and mind-set for someone his age. Both him and [Burns] have a bucketful of talent,” coach Tom James-Martin said.

Bearcat fans also have reason to be excited. Second-year starter Patrick Thomas is looking to improve upon his strong rookie season after the lengthy left-handed guard proved himself an integral part of the starting line-up with his outstanding perimeter defence. However Thomas plans to use the extra training he had over the summer with the sixers, as well as the extra defensive scrutiny drawn by some of his higher profile teammates, to his advantage on the other end of the floor this year.

“Guys like Jason Cadee and Daniel Johnson on my team, they’ll be getting a lot of attention,” says Thomas, who averaged 7.6ppg and 2.8apg last season. “[The Sixers training] has really helped my shooting, just getting up shots everyday against higher calibre defenders … so this season my job will also be to step in offensively and knock down open shots.”

But it’s not only Sturt and West that can expect big things from their youth in season 2013. Fellow state under 20 bronze medallist Ryan Clark is a second year big man for the Woodville Warriors who will provide some important back-up for Woodville’s veteran front court. Harbouring a well-developed arsenal of low-post moves and an underrated mid-range jump shot, Clark is one who certainly appreciates the magnitude of the opportunity he has created for himself.

“I used to be the floor wiper back in the early 2000’s…coming out every week, watching Scottie Whitmore and all those greats, those great teams…[they’re] what really inspired me to want to play for this club at this level.”

Also sure to catch some teams by surprise is tough young shooting guard Jordan Centernera. The SASI graduate, who spent much of 2011/12 playing in Germany for the Artland Dragons, has returned to his former junior club after a brief stint with Sturt in under 18s. Capable of scoring in bunches by knocking down open shots or getting to the hoop, coaches will have to be on their guard to keep him from getting hot.

“He’s our most prolific scorer in the under 23s program,” says Lions coach Scott Whitmore. “He was injured a lot last year…but he’s definitely likely to have a major impact for us this season.”

The Southern Tigers are another team who can expect a welcome injection of talented youth into their new-look squad this season, headlined by future star Sam Johns. The versatile big man is a nightmare match-up for most teams, utilising his size and strength by posting up smaller guards, but equally capable of burning more cumbersome opponents from the outside.

“Sam's versatility combined with a strong basketball IQ makes him tough to guard,” says Southern Tiger teammate Tim Smyth, who also hints that it’s not just his on-floor play that makes him so valuable. “The leadership skills he brings to our group are far beyond his years. Sometimes I forget he is only 18 years of age.”

With all this new talent floating around the league and several teams undergoing major shake-ups over the summer, it’s likely a number of coaches will delay putting together a scouting report until this year’s key personnel becomes clearer.

For those that do, they’d just better hope they didn’t forget a piece.

By Lachlan Sellar

Interviews with these players are available on the Central ABL Podcast.