Accolades and headlines for head coach Tom Dickman and the 2006-07 Hood College men’s basketball team were abundant. School record 21 wins; Capital Athletic Conference regular season champs; NCAA Tournament at-large bid; two all-region nods; numerous coach of the year honors — quite an impressive log for a four-year-old program in its first season in a new conference. So what will Dickman and the Blazers do for an encore?

“Last year we thought we were decent, even though we hadn’t played in that conference,” said Dickman, the 2006-07 Coach of the Year by three different outlets, including the CAC, D3Hoops and PrestoSports/Pride of Maryland. “Those first three years, we didn’t duck good teams. We had played good teams in the past, and we thought we’d be in the middle of the pack. Now everybody else has a pretty good idea of what they’re dealing with when they see us. Now the key will be, can we maintain and get better?”

Dickman’s charges led the league in scoring a year ago, averaging nearly 77 points per game. The fifth-year mentor is fortunate to return nearly 65% of that scoring output, including his top two scorers, both of whom were all-conference performers.

Senior Jesse Gutekunst and junior Ryan Junghans garnered a plethora of awards and honors last season and return as Hood’s two top scorers from the 2006-07 squad.

Junghans, a wily shooting guard who transferred to Hood from St. Mary’s College two years ago, led the Blazers in scoring and listed third in the CAC after averaging 20.5 points per game. A lethal three-point shooter, Junghans set program records in three-point field goals made (90) and attempted (190) and was ranked among the nation’s best in free throw percentage (.892). He will also serve as a co-captain this season.

Dickman refers to Gutekunst as a “difference-maker” for the Blazers in the post. The 6-8 240-lb., center led the league in rebounding (11.4 rpg), blocks (1.97 bpg) and field goal percentage (.619) and also ranked second on the team with a 19.0 scoring average. He registered 19 double-doubles on the season and was selected as the PrestoSports/Pride of Maryland Player of the Year.

Dickman is leaning on a sophomore to jump-start the offense in the absence of four-year starter and captain Darnell Edmonds, who graduated in May. Sophomore Nick Scott, Edmonds’ protégé last year at the point guard spot, gained valuable minutes as a reserve in 23 games and has worked hard in the off-season to inherit this pivotal role.

“Nick will be looked upon to be one of our leaders this year at the point guard,” Dickman said. “He’s the catalyst to make us go a lot of times. I think he’s really looking forward to the season.” Scott averaged nearly 11 minutes per outing in 2006-07 and chipped in 2.4 points and 1.1 assists a night.

Junior Anthony Bennett was a solid addition to the lineup last season and earned a starting role towards the latter half of the season. The 5-10 guard from Chester, Md., averaged just under five points per game and reached double figures on four occasions.

“I think this will be a breakout year for Anthony,” Dickman said. “He’s a good player. I think he’s much more comfortable this year and he’s a player that can beat people off the dribble and take them to the rim.”

Senior co-captain Arthur Claybon is a steady, defensive-minded player who will be called upon to contribute on both ends of the court. A reserve in 18 games after missing the first semester due to academic requirements, he averaged 16.6 minutes per game and chipped in 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds.

“We know what we are going to get from Arthur every minute he’s on the court,” Dickman said. “He’s a great defender and rebounder and he has improved as a shooter. He’s one of our captains, and I think he is well-deserving of that role. He has the ability to lead. From where he was when he came here to where he is now, it says a lot about him.”

Junior Jeff Willison is an athletic post player who will serve as a capable backup to Gutekunst. Willison registered 26 points and 23 rebounds in 20 games for the Blazers a year ago and has excelled in the preseason.

“Jeff is a tough inside scorer, he rebounds the ball well,” Dickman said. “He’s probably one of our better athletes in terms of all-around athleticism.”

Two other important reserves return in sophomore forward Mike McCarrick and junior guard Chris LeGrand. Both are fundamentally sound players who should see increased playing time this season. McCarrick is a 6-4 forward from Fairfax, Va., who tallied 46 points and 35 rebounds in 27 games. LeGrand appeared in seven games and knocked down 3-of-8 shots from the floor, all from long-range.

“Mike is playing well in practice, he’s a solid player,” Dickman said. “I’d like for him to step up and be more assertive in games at times, he’s good enough to do that. This will be a big year for him to see how far he can go as a basketball player. Chris has the ability to knock down shots and understands the game very well.”

Dickman welcomes a host of newcomers to compliment the veterans at all five positions. Two key assets are forwards Rian McHenry and Mark McGlone. McHenry hails from Dumfries, Va., and perennial state power Potomac High School, while McGlone comes to Hood from Ashburn, Va., and starred for Broad Run High School.

“Mark is a very skilled player, I think he will see some significant minutes as a freshman,” said Dickman. “He can play either forward position and can play a guard position if we need him to. He’s a good three-point shooter and he has the ability to put the ball on the floor. He can be a really good offensive player during his career here at Hood.

“Rian has been a pleasant surprise in preseason,” continued Dickman. “He is an aggressive rebounder and he’s shown more ability to score the ball than we thought when we recruited him. He along with McGlone will be two freshmen that will be really significant players for us, they might both start. I see nothing but big things ahead for Rian; he’ll be one of the better players in the CAC before his career is over.”

Dickman also welcomes four nercomers who will add quality depth to the roster in forwards Tyler Snoots and Billy Kim and guards Blair Moore and Allen Kees. Snoots is a local product from Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, Kim comes to Hood from Fairfax High School, while Moore attended Abington High School in Glenside, Pa., and Kees is a graduate of Musselman High School in Gerrardstown, W.Va.

“Tyler is learning on the job,” said Dickman of the 6-5 Snoots. “He’s a big body and he rebounds well. Hopefully he’ll stay with it and continue to improve. Blair is a point guard who has some potential to be a really good player for us. He needs to get bigger and stronger but he’s got good skills and he’s a good shooter. He played on a good high school team and I think as he learns what we’re trying to do he’ll become a better player. Billy is a tough, hard-nosed defensive player with underrated offensive skills who will help us in the frontcourt. Allen is a really great shooter, in the mold of a Ryan Junghans, he’s got a really good stroke. He’s improving the other parts of his game and, since we started practice, I can see him developing as more of a ball handler and a defender.

“As a team, the biggest thing for us is we’ll be able to score, but the question about how good we are will be answered in how well we defend,” continued Dickman. “We weren’t great defensively last year, we were adequate. We outscored a couple teams but we need to get a better mentality on stopping people and we need to keep people out of foul trouble. I know our guys are really looking forward to playing. They are looking forward to being the hunted instead of the hunter.

“The league will be just as strong, there are no off nights. And then our out-of-conference schedule is tough. But that’s how we got in the tournament last year. We didn’t avoid anybody, so it’s a three-month thrill ride.”