By MIKE HUGHES
For The Times Leader
CADIZ--Aaron Foldi, at least on paper, picked a great time to take over the Harrison Central boys' baskebtall program.
Foldi was hired last spring after longtime head coach Justin Clifford took the AD job at St. Clairsville, creating the opening.
Harrison opted to hire Foldi, who two years ago assisted Clifford while he student taught at Harrison Central. An Indian Creek grad, Foldi played four years under Joe Dunlevy then two years collegiality for Joe Wallace at Franciscan, while also serving as an assistant to Wallace his senior year.
"I'm taking a lot of tools you could say from both coaches, using a little bit of their philosophies, but also having my own."
What he inherits is a roster that returns its two leading scorers, three starters, and a boatload of size.
Not a bad situation to start in for his first head coaching gig.
Senior Jace Madzia (6-4) and junior Hayden Cassidy (6-0) are back as the team's leading returning scorers from a season ago. Cassidy was a bit banged up from football but recently returned to the practice fold.
Senior Cabot Arbaugh (6-5) started half of last season and was hurt the other, but his experienced presence in the starting lineup will also be a boost.
Kaden Jurosko, a mainstay from the baseball team, opted to come back out his senior season and will be a huge help defensively while adding another capable guard to the lineup.
Josiah Jones is the other senior and will be a factor.
Then, you get to the junior class, which is quite sizable, both in number and stature.
There are seven juniors on the team, led by Cassidy.
He's joined by the brothers Fluharty, the 6-5 Alex and 6-9 Nick. There's also Clayton Vermillion (6-6), brother to one of the two starters lost to graduation.
Ryan Arbaugh (6-4), Dan Ody (6-4), and Parker Hutton round out the juniors, with Hutton (5-10) not at least 6-0 in the class.
Safe to say height is not an issue for the Huskies.
"Defensively, we've got to use our size to our advantag,e be able to outrebound and limit teams, limit their second-chance opportunities," Foldi said.
Sophomores Mykel Quito and Brady Elliott, along with Brice Tanner, round of the varsity/junior varsity squad.
The good news is the Huskies are taking to Foldi's preferred offensive style.
"They are taking to it and adjusting," Foldi said. "It's really an up-tempo, high-energy across the board style that they've adapted really well to.
"All of our guys give their all on the court and its awesome to see because it makes the battle a little easier as a coach."
Foldi is also surrounded by successful coaches as his assistants, including former Huskies' boss Donnie Madzia and former Bridgeport and Edison head coach John Visser. Jimmy Little and volunteers Mike Sliva and Chip Callissie round out the staff.