Lakeland High School's boys basketball team could be the sleeper special of the year in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association this winter.

The Eagles are young, hungry and have the potential to be quite good.

Head coach Bob Brugger hopes that his program has turned the corner after a few down years and is on the verge of returning to its once-prominent stature in the KLAA – Brugger's 2007, 2008 and 2009 teams were some of the best in all of Oakland County, not just in their conference.

"We've taken out lumps, but in that, we've built for the future," said Brugger of the program's recent slip. "I think the future can be very bright. Everyone's ready to get things back on the right track."

The biggest reason for such optimism surrounding Lakeland's future on the prep hardwood is junior forward Nick Troxell, an explosive presence on the wing ready to pick back up where he left off as a sophomore when he was lighting it up in the stat column and showing his knack for finding the bottom of the hoop in the most efficient and entertaining ways. Troxell was the only tenth-grader in all of the KLAA to be named first-team all-conference last season and will be in the discussion for conference MVP this year.

Rounding out the starting five for the Eagles will be junior Brad Govan and sophomores Timmy Brotherton, Luke Ells and Grant Osborn, all three of which got experience on the varsity last season as freshman.

Govan is a gritty post player with a solid set of moves in the paint and a motor that never stops. He will be the squad's emotional leader in the huddle and display a game-by-game toughness that will hopefully be contagious.

Brotherton is the floor general and a fast-emerging pace-setter with a high basketball IQ and a demeanor on the court that exceeds his young age.

Ells is a deadeye shooter and Osborn an ace defender with slashing ability and a nice mid-range game.

The squad's sixth-man will be junior Ross Heiman, the school's quarterback on the football team. Heiman is a do-everything type that would start on a lot of other teams and is sure to bring an x-factor mentality off the bench.

"This is a group that's ready to bring the pride back to this program," Brugger said. "These are kids with great character and a superior work ethic and I think there's a lot of exciting things ahead for them and this team in the future."