DES MOINES, IOWA - With the opening of preseason practice starting Friday, third-year head coach Mark Phelps previewed the 2010-11 edition of the Drake Bulldogs during the annual Drake Basketball Media Day Monday.

"We're excited to get started," said Phelps. "We have a lot of newcomers who bring a certain level of talent to the team. I'm excited about the mix of our four upperclassmen with the recruits. I like the leadership and chemistry that we are starting to develop."

Fans will have an ooportunity to get a sneak preview of the Drake men's and women's basketball teams durin the True Blue Debut Oct. 21 at the Drake Knapp Center when the squads hold intrasquad scrimmages.

Gone are four seniors, including first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference performer Josh Young who graduated as the school's career scoring leader, but what has emerged for Drake basketball is an infusion of youth and talent ready to take the Bulldogs to new heights.

Young, a three-year starter at guard, along with forward Adam Templeton who led the Missouri Valley Conference in three-point field goal percentage and ranked second in rebounding last year; two-year starting point guard Craig Stanley; and key reserve Bill Eaddy who helped lead Drake to back-to-back post-season appearances in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

What remains is a young roster with only one senior - guard Ryan Wedel - and the nucleus of the league's top recruiting classes in each of the past two seasons.

The players returning and the signees that step foot on the Drake Knapp Center court are as gifted as Phelps has enjoyed during his tenure at Drake.

“We have a deeper team, a more athletic team and a longer team than we've had since I've been at Drake,” said Phelps. “It will allow us to be better on the defensive end and allow us to be up-tempo on offense and to really have an aggressive attacking style and mindset at both ends of the court.”

"Our freshman are doing a good job of making the transition from high school," Phelps added. "They have responded well and demonstrated a certain level of toughness. Our upperclassmen set that tone of working hard."

The key to Drake's success will be how quickly the seven returning letterwinners can mesh with six newcomers who are expected to contribute.

Guards Wedel and Frank Wiseler and sophomore center Seth VanDeest return as starters from last year's team.

The 5-foot 11-inch Wedel anchors the backcourt and is the team's top returning scorer after averaging 11.1 points. Named to Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer team, Wedel started at point guard in 14 straight games to open the 2009-10 campaign before moving to off-guard. He scored in double figures in 19 games and ranked second in the MVC in steals.

Wedel also led Drake with 66 three-point baskets last year. But it is Wedel's leadership that Phelps is counting on.

“What he does is provide leadership to other players through his actions,” said Phelps. “He really works hard by setting examples in team and individual workouts. I expect him to be a huge part of the leadership network with our team.

Wiseler, a junior, hopes to pick up where he left off from last season when he started the last 14 games at point guard.

A member of the Luxembourg national team, Wiseler averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 assists for the Bulldogs last year. He was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week Jan. 24 after averaging 10.5 points, 7.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in victories past Evansville and Wichita State. He tallied 10 points, seven assists and one steal in a home win vs. Creighton and then had career-high 12 assists vs. Wichita State.

VanDeest drew raves with his game by game improvement in the post last year and was rewarded by being named to the MVC All-Freshman Team. He started all 33 games at center, averaging 8.5 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 48.8 percent. He ranked second in the MVC in blocked shots with a Drake freshman single-season school-record 45 (1.4 avg.).

A two-time MVC Newcomer of Week, VanDeest ranked third on Drake freshman single-season scoring (279) and rebounding (139) charts. He had 20 points, while tying a career high with four blocked shots in a win against Creighton and also had career-high four blocked shots at Wichita State and at Evansville.

But what has Phelps beaming about VanDeest's continued development is what took place during the off-season when he grew an inch to six feel 11 inches, while adding 20 pounds of strength to his 6-11, 238-pound frame.

“We expected Seth to pick up right where he left off last year when he established himself as a low post presence in our league,” said Phelps. “But more importantly than his growth is that valued year of experience that he gained. We play offense through Seth. He makes great decisions when he is double teamed. He is an excellent passer.

“We have to have a paint presence through dribble penetration or through the low post. It is one of the pillars of our program in terms of how we want to play.”

With a year's experience behind them, 6-8 sophomores Aaron Hawley, Ben Simons and Reece Uhlenhopp look to contribute more to the frontline fortunes.
   
Simons, who finished runner-up as Mr. Basketball in Michigan as a prep senior in 2009, averaged 5.8 points and 2.1 rebounds while starting in 13 games for Drake last year. He possesses a strong perimeter game, scoring a career-high 24 points against Iowa State while hitting a career-high five three-point baskets at Indiana State. 
   
Hawley can play both inside and outside after averaging 4.7 points and 2.0 rebounds last year. He had a career-high 16 points in 19 minutes to key a victory at Austin Peay, making two three-point baskets down the stretch. He matched that career high with 16 points, including a career-high three treys, and seven rebounds against North Dakota and then collected 11 points and a career-high eight rebounds in his MVC debut against Bradley.
   
Uhlenhopp also has the combination of being physical in the paint while displaying a soft touch from the outside.
   
“Ben, Reece and Aaron have worked on gaining additional strength during the off-season,” Phelps said. “They will be better having been through the Missouri Valley Conference wars for one year. That one year of experience in their hip pocket will serve them well.”
   
Simons capped off his freshman campaign by joining VanDeest on the Global Sports Academy All-Stars, made up of players from the Big Ten and Missouri Valley Conference, that played five games in Europe in August.
   
“That was a great opportunity to get some experience on the international level,” said Phelps.
   
The highly touted newcomers are expected to contribute immediately.
   
The frontline fortunes are buoyed with the addition of 6-8 sophomore forward Jordan Clarke and 6-9 junior forward Kraidon Woods who provide athleticism, length and maturity.
   
Clarke sat out last year after transferring from the University of Vermont where he was rated the top newcomer at forward in the America East Conference by Rivals.com. He played in the prestigious Capital Classic All-Star game in 2008 following his senior campaign at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Rockville, Md.

Woods, a transfer from Binghampton University, began his collegiate career at Arizona State where he played in 2007-08 and 2008-09. He originally signed with Villanova in the fall of 2005 before attending The Hill Prep School in Pottstown, Pa. where he guided the team to the championship of the Pennsylvania Independent Tournament.
   
“Clarke and Wood are two athletic bookends that we haven't had,” Phelps said. “It is exciting to think about what those guys can become.
   
“Defensively when you throw in the mix of Hawley and Uhlenhopp as a unit, our frontline will have to rebound, defend and have a low post presence on the offensive end. They should take a burden off Seth (center VanDeest) and hopefully they can play off each other.”
   
The Bulldogs are loaded with young, skilled depth in the backcourt and perimeter, led by freshman guard Rayvonte Rice, who was named the 2009-10 Gatorade Illinois Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
   
The 6-4 Rice is an explosive athlete with exceptional physical skills while combining size, speed, strength and shooting ability. He averaged 23.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 steals as a senior leading Centennial High School to third place in the 2010 Illinois Class 3A state tournament. He also was named the most valuable player of the 2009 Illinois Class 3A state tournament after directing Centennial to the state title.

Jeremy Jeffers is a 6-6 freshman wing from Wilson, N.C., where he earned North Carolina Independent School Class 1A all-state honors as a senior at Greenfield High School. Jeffers has excellent court  vision for a player his size and has a smooth stroke behind the three-point arc.   

Junior guard Kurt Alexander earned first-team National Junior College Division II All-American honors in 2009 at Iowa Central Community College. He will add playmaking and scoring to the backcourt and has the ability to create shots for his teammates.   

Karl Madison, who earned third-team Illinois Class 3A all-state honors as a senior at Lamphier High School, is a court-savy point guard with a high basketball IQ whose speed and quickness will be a welcomed addition.   

“Madison and Alexander are two players who can replace some of Craig Stanley's speed and quickness,” Phelps added. “We're excited about what can happen to Rice and Jeffers as they develop.”
   
Phelps also plans to take advantage of 6-4 freshman redshirt David Smith, who he describes as the team's most versatile player.
   
“He is another athletic, strong guard who can play the point or wing,” said Phelps. “David can make his mark as a defender and as a athlete who can get in the paint with the basketball and make plays for our team. He will be a big part of what we do this year.”