SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College men's basketball coach Brad McDougald looks forward to coaching the 2019-20 edition of Cougar basketball.

"We are still in the learning stage of the season," said Coach McDougald, who is in his third season with the Cougars. "Things are coming together nicely, but we have to continue getting better every day."

Coach McDougald notes that this year's team will be led by four returning sophomores. "I expect big things from them all, including leadership being the top of that list," he said.

Among the top returnees from last year's squad are sophomores Jackson Reid of Cary (Panther Creek H.S.) and Rodney Alston of Rocky Mount (Rocky Mount H.S.). Reid was named Region X Player of the Year last season. He also was named to the All-Region X Team and All-Region X Freshman Team. He averaged 15.9 points per game. Alston was named to the Region X All-Freshman Team. He averaged 11.6 points per game.

Also returning are Jamar Butler of Spring Lake (Western Harnett H.S.), who averaged 6.9 points per game, and Darnell Carver of Lillington (Western Harnett H.S.), who averaged 4.8 points per game.

Newcomers are on this year's team are Johnny Anderson of Monroe (Union Academy Charter School), Joshua Bell of Pembroke (Purnell Swett H.S.), Joshua Harris of Sanford (Lee County H.S.), Daniel Hasty of Monroe (Union Academy Charter School), Tyler Huff of Rolesville (Rolesville H.S.), Caleb Montgomery of Rolesville (Rolesville H.S.), Matthew Morgan of Bear Creek (Chatham Central H.S.), Tre Richardson of Lillington (Western Harnett H.S.), Jaques Shields of Raleigh (Wakefield H.S.), Ababacar Thiam of Raleigh (Wakefield H.S.), Emari White of Erwin (Triton H.S.), and Camaron Womble of Raleigh (Millbrook H.S.).

"We will be small, but play really fast on both ends of the court," said Coach McDougald. "I'm really excited about this team, as we have some really hard-working young guys who compete every day in practice. Our intensity has been really high in most practices."

The Cougars compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Region X. "The Region X is a tough conference with some really good talent," said Coach McDougald.

Coach McDougald talks about the importance of passion and team. "We start and end every practice with - 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... FAMILY! So that's what we are creating here with this new group," he said.

Among the schedule highlights is a game with the University of North Carolina junior varsity team on Feb. 15 in Chapel Hill.

The schedule:

Nov. 2 - Vance-Granville CC (3 p.m.), 5 - Mount Olive JV (7 p.m.), 6 - Guilford Tech CC (7 p.m.), 9 - Wake Tech CC (3 p.m.), 13 - at Davidson County CC (7 p.m.), 15 - Blue Lights College (7 p.m.), 17 - Oxford Emory College (2 p.m.), 19 - at Methodist JV (8 p.m.), 23 - Cape Fear CC (3 p.m.), 25 - at Louisburg College (7 p.m.).

Dec. 1 - at Mount Olive JV (1 p.m.), 5 - Sandhills CC (7 p.m.), 7 - at Brunswick CC (3 p.m.), 14 - at Johnston CC (3 p.m.), 20 - at Catawba Valley CC Classic - Catawba Valley CC (6 p.m.), 21 - at Catawba Valley CC Classic - Caldwell CC (1 p.m.).

Jan. 2 - Davidson County CC (7 p.m.), 4 - at Caldwell CC (3 p.m.), 7 - Blue Lights College (7 p.m.), 11 - at Cape Fear CC (3 p.m.), 14 - at Mt. Zion Christian Academy Prep (7 p.m.), 18 - at Oxford Emory College (3 p.m.), 22 - at Sandhills CC (7 p.m.), 27 - Methodist JV (7 p.m.).

Feb. 1 - at Mid Atlantic Christian JV (TBD), 8 - Johnston CC (3 p.m.), 10 - at Fayetteville Tech CC (7 p.m.), 13 - Mt. Zion Christian Academy Prep (7 p.m.), 15 - at UNC JV (3 p.m.), 18 - Brunswick CC (7 p.m.), 22-23 - at Region X Regional Tournament at Sandhills CC.