With the talent they’re showcasing on the hardwood this year, don’t look for Inglemoor High’s Vikings to post another mediocre 7-7 league season and finish under .500 (11-12) overall.

This year, the Vikings have plenty of senior leadership and a couple of key newcomers that will bolster the team’s chances of being a force to be reckoned with in the league.

Starting Viking quarterback Todd Campbell returns this season as a 6-foot-5 forward and should be one of the better post players in the league, and 6-foot-1 guard Benji Bryant cracks a sharp shot, averaging more than 10 points per game last year.

Inglemoor is fortunate to have one of Kingco’s tallest kids, 6-8 junior Paul Jorg, as its center and should have plenty of blocked shots and rebounds to his credit this year.

“It’s a real team,” said Inglemoor head coach Greg Lowell. “It’s not like we have just one or two guys … We have three starters returning, and some younger kids that are going to come in and do a pretty good job, so we’re excited about it.”

But it’s two of the key newcomers to the squad that may make the majority of the difference between this and last year’s squad.

Football star Paul Ena decided to try out for hoops this year, and has already impressed the Viking coaching staff with his ability on the hardwood.

“I’m glad we have Paul Ena out, he’s a good athlete and good basketball player,” Lowell said.

Perhaps the player to watch this season, however, will be sophomore Andy Nwaelele, whom Lowell says will start at point guard.

Nwaelele is the youngest of four brothers in a family rich with basketball legacy. Dan (class of 2002), Ken (2004) and Ike (2006) all played varsity hoops for Inglemoor, with Ike helping to lead the Vikings to two state-tournament appearances in 2005 and 2006.

Coach Lowell believes that other than perennial favorite Garfield, the league is surprisingly even between 10 other teams. One team could come out and surprise another on any given night.

“We’re just going to take it one game at a time, and to play as hard as we can,” Lowell said. “We think we can be there (in the playoffs). It’s going to be a battle because it’s a really good league, but these guys have been there before, and they think they can do it again.”