“A collective buy-in”–that is what ADM boys basketball coach Aaron Mager needs from his returning players next season if the Tigers are going improve on their 6-16 record from this year.

With a solid core coming back, including two starters and 6-man Kyle Ferguson, Mager says that buy-in begins by taking better advantage of available opportunities in the offseason.

“All of them have to commit to each other and say, ‘hey, if there are opportunities we are going to be there’, whether that be player development things in the morning and weight lifting sessions, or if it is leagues where we are playing as a team… or if it is on their own and finding pick-up games.  I mean the best way kids can get better is to play better opponents, and you know, they can to the Aspens of the world and play against adults–that’s how you’re going to get better.”

Coach Mager also believes the offseason buy-in has to come from more guys than just his returning core.

“We only carried 12 guys this year so you do the numbers and there are opportunities there for some of the young bucks to step forward and (take) an active role on a varsity team, and hopefully that means something to them.  It can’t just be, ‘I’m the best we’ve got, I don’t really need to get a whole lot better and I’m going to fall into that spot’.  I want people who are driven to go take something and who want to win.”

Ferguson, Jacob Hardy and Joe Sloss are the notable names that will be back for ADM in the 2014-15 campaign.  Solid contributors Jake Sloss and Johnny Reel also return.