October is far too early for John A. Logan College men’s basketball coach Mark Imhoff to talk about conference titles and trips to the national tournament next March. But make no mistake about it, his Volunteers have high expectations as another season of thrills on the hardwood commences Tuesday.

According to the National Junior College Athletic Association preseason poll, the Vols are ranked 27th in the nation.

“I don’t put much stock in polls, but we do have high expectations,” Imhoff said. “These kids understand what they could accomplish, but we will have to get a lot better, especially on defense, if we want to reach our goal of winning the GRAC (Great Rivers Athletic Conference) and making it to nationals.”

Logan came within one game of making it to nationals last March, losing out to Southwestern Illinois in the finals of the Region 24 tournament at Rend Lake.

“Those kids who were freshmen last year got a taste of winning basketball and how close they were to qualifying and I think that makes this year’s goals and aspirations more believable and within reach,” Imhoff said.

The 15-year head coach, who is a native of Murphysboro and has won 279 games against 171 losses, said it’s unusual for him to have only brought in five recruits. But that’s because Imhoff’s team is thick with sophomore experience that could prove critical when the GRAC portion of the schedule gets under way in January.

Sophomores who started last year include: Jesse Perry, Kenny Harris, Russell Moore and Lazeric Jones.

Perry, a 6-foot-8 forward, and Harris, a 6-foot-6 forward, were named first team All-GRAC and All-Region 24. Moore, a 6-foot-3 guard, was named to the second team of each group.

Harris averaged 12.4 points per game, while Perry averaged 11.3 and Moore 11.5 points.

Jones was overlooked by league coaches, but not by some of the top Division I programs in the country who have come calling at the Carterville campus this summer and fall to watch the Vols’ floor general in practice. He is thought by some to be the top junior college point guard in the country.

“Zeek (short for Lazeric) is very athletic,” Imhoff said. “He is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound guard who can shoot and has the ability to defend. He finishes well in traffic. If there’s anything he can improve on, it might be his intermediate range shot. I’d like to see him bring more of that.”

Imhoff described Perry as a 6-foot-8 perimeter player with tremendous athletic ability.

“Jesse has added about 10 to 15 pounds to his fame over the last year and is a much stronger player now than he was at the start of last year. He’s also improved his jump shot and has the ability to run transition with the guards. He’s developed into an awfully good player.”

As for Harris, Imhoff described him as “the poster child for a blue-collar player” because of his solid work ethic inside the paint.

“Kenny has great energy. He’s a slasher,” Imhoff said. “He can score in transition and he can go inside and score or rebound.”

Imhoff said Moore is the team’s premier three-point shooter coming into the season.

“Shooting is his strong suit,” the coach said. “But I would like to see him finish in traffic more.”

Other sophomore returnees include: Antwond Roshell (6-foot-10 forward/center), Devonte Maymon (6-foot-2 guard) and Isiah Simelton (6-foot-7 forward out of West Frankfort). One freshman redshirt back in the fold is 6-foot-11 center Jacquel Webster.

Imhoff said he was impressed that both Roshell and Webster dropped about 40 pounds in the off season and that Maymon gives the Vols stability off the bench at the point because of “good decision-making abilities.”

Imhoff added that Simelton, a graduate of Frankfort Community High School, “has made tremendous strides” since last year and will definitely see playing time.

“He can play inside and contribute both in a scoring role and as a rebounder,” Imhoff said.

Sophomore transfer Andre Clark, a 6-foot-9 forward from the University of Arkansas, is clearly a difference maker on this year’s ballclub.

“Andre brings some outstanding tools to the table,” Imhoff said. “He’s already played at a high Division I level in the SEC and has aspirations of returning to that level next year. He’s long, athletic and has the ability to score inside and out.”

Heading up the group of freshmen is Nathan Butler out of Puerto Rico. A 6-foot-6 guard, Butler is expected to contribute to the team immediately.

“Nathan can shoot and has good basketball sense,” Imhoff said.

DeMario Hines is a 6-foot-8 power forward out of Cleveland, Ohio. Imhoff describes him as “athletic and very active” in the lane.

“Mario has a chance to be a good player and could easily find himself contributing to our team this year.”

Josh Anderson is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard out of Chicago Simeon High School and was formerly a teammate of Jones. He is the son of former University of Illinois and Orlando Magic standout Nick Anderson.

“Josh has the strength and ability to contribute for us. He can shoot,” Imhoff said. “He just has to improve defensively.”

Jeff Jackson is a 5-foot-10 point guard from Little Rock, Ark. Imhoff said his quickness is an asset and that once he makes the transition to the college game can be a big help to the program.

“We’ve talked about wearing a target on our backs,” Imhoff said referencing his team’s prospects of winning a league title. “But it’s a position we want to be in. It’s just a matter of the kids stepping up their games. You can never let down in our league, because anyone and I do mean anyone, can knock you off. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a tremendous amount of respect for our league.”

Third-year assistant coach Kyle Smithpeters says he is most definitely looking forward to a successful season of roundball.

“This is a talented group we have. What impresses me most is how good the kids are and how they conduct themselves off the court,” Smithpeters said. “We all have a common goal, and as a coach, it’s exciting to see the kids buy into what you’re telling them. I’m expecting great things this year.”

The Vols open at home Tuesday against Mineral Area College from Park Hills, Mo. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Donald L. Brewer Gymnasium and Convocation Center.