High expectations might not be anything new for the DeSales boys basketball team, but they've likely never been loftier than the season that began last weekend.

The Stallions (0-1) are coming off a season that saw them roll to the Division II final four -- losing a tough semifinal bout 58-56 to Wooster Triway to conclude a 19-7 season -- after an undefeated run through the Central Catholic League.

Valuable players like Andrew Thomas, Ricky Taylor and David Knapke graduated from that squad, but as the season begins there are several players poised to fill the void left by that trio.

Senior Dane Johnson (6-foot-1) keeps climbing up the state list of all time assist leaders, and seniors Alex Kellogg (6-7) and Elijah Allen (6-4) should each reach the 1,000 point plateau sometime this season.

"I don't know that you can point to anybody that's more valuable than Dane," coach Blair Albright said. "We have a lot of talented kids, but when you look at what we are as a team and what we're trying to accomplish, I think it's very clear that Dane is the engine behind our team.

"He really makes us go and the way he plays is often indicative of the way our team will play. That's a tremendous challenge for him and he's done well with that."

Johnson has 495 career assists and has accounted for 21 10-assist performances the past two seasons, including a 19-dime game against Rosecrans last season.

The state record for assists in a season is 294 by Jacob Diebler, who did it for Upper Sandusky in 2004-05, and is currently playing at Valparaiso. Johnson tallied 270 last season, good enough for fourth on the list.

For Johnson to eclipse Diebler's state assist career record (835) he'd have to dish out 341 this season.

Kellogg continues to improve each season, and Albright doesn't see any reason why this year would be an exception.

"We're expecting big things out of Alex this year," Albright said. "I think he's really matured and come into his own in the off-season. He's always been a committed and hard-working kid. I think he understands and appreciates what his skill set is and what he needs to do to be successful."

Allen might just be the most polished of the trio that's played together for three years going into 2006-07.

"Statistically when you look at what he does for us he fills every category," Albright explained. "He led us in many statistical categories last year. I think he's a very complete player. He's our best finisher around the rim and he's shown the ability to be a shutdown defender."

Junior Sean Hobbs (7-1) saw sporadic playing time last season, but should be a big factor in the game plan this season, making the Stallions an even stronger presence inside.

Freshman Nick Kellogg, Alex's brother, is fresh off a successful first season as a starting forward on the school's soccer team and should be a valuable asset on the hardwood.

"Right now he's starting for us at the two-guard spot," Albright said. "We certainly have some questions to answer.

"We have a kid like Sean Hobbs who needs some experience and we have a freshman in the starting lineup. We have two sophomore guards who'll play a lot. As those young players mature that's what's going to shape this team."

Senior Cris Diedalis (6-2) returns as a valuable back-up to Johnson at the point guard position and senior Brandon Garrick (6-2) will be called on to increase the role he held a season ago.

Seniors Tim Purcell (6-4), Adam Schwab (6-4) and Ryan Moore (5-9) are all returning letterwinners.

Sophomores Nick Goff (6-2) and Zak Gaborcik will see their first time on the varsity squad.

Last season began just after a state championship run by the football team, keeping a few key players from joining the team until just before the season started.

That contributed to a slow start -- DeSales opened 2-4 -- but things began moving smoothly after the new year as the Stallions went 10-0 in the Central Catholic League and a postseason run.

This season began with a 60-54 loss to Greenfield McClain at the Zane Trace Tip Off Classic Saturday.

Albright wants to impress on his players this is a new season.

"I think it's important that our guys understand and appreciate the steps it takes to get there," he said. "Our goals are very much like a building block situation. We want to win our league. We feel like if we can do that it'd put us in a good position going into the district tournament."

The Stallions play at Ready Friday (8 p.m.) and against Cincinnati North College Hill at Otterbein Saturday (2 p.m.).