While we’re still in October and the heart of football season, the thoughts of basketball are starting to creep into our minds.

Whether it was West Virginia’s visit to Wheeling on Thursday or if you were a couch potato and watched Big Ten Media Day coverage, basketball season is coming quickly.

This could actually be one of the most entertaining and interesting seasons for college basketball because of the number of area players who are littering rosters throughout the country at a variety of levels.

River grad Jensen Caretti headlines the area cast. The reigning Ohio Miss Basketball begins her collegiate career at Ohio State on Nov. 6 in an exhibition game against Ashland. Her first real game comes on Friday, Nov. 11 against Duquesne, which went to the NCAA Tournament last year and features Brooke grad Angela Staffileno.

During media day activities last month, OSU women’s coach Kevin McGuff said he believes Caretti will make a positive contribution this season, but did comment about her having to adjust to the new environment and the increased level of competition.

Bridgeport product Caitlyn Kroll is continuing to battle back from a torn ACL late last season with the Bulldogs. She’s now preparing for her first season at St. Francis University, which plays in the Northeast Conference. According to Kroll, she may redshirt this season to let her knee fully heal. If she does suit up, area fans have a couple of opportunities to see Kroll play closer to home. On Dec. 3, St. Francis visits Youngstown State, which boasts Linsly grad Morgan Brunner on its roster, and on Jan. 16, it visits Robert Morris.

On the men’s side, Wheeling Central grad Chase Harler looks like he’s going to see some minutes for the Mountaineers this winter. Harler — who had a brilliant prep career with the Maroon Knights — opens his first collegiate season in Morgantown on Nov. 11 against Mount St. Mary’s.

Wheeling Park product Phil Bledsoe is preparing for his first season at Marshall. Bledsoe is also expected to see valuable minutes for the Thundering Herd. Marshall opens its season on Saturday, Nov. 12 against North Carolina Central. Area fans not wanting to make the more than 3-hour drive to Huntington to see Bledsoe and the Herd can see him at Ohio State on Nov. 25 (night before the Buckeyes meet Michigan in football) or on Dec. 17 at Akron or on Dec. 28 at Pitt.

At the Division II level, Shadyside grad Karli Bonar begins her senior season at Findlay on Nov. 11 at Indianapolis. Area fans will get to see Bonar up close this season when the Oilers visit Wheeling Jesuit on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

If that’s not enough to wet your hoops appetite, both West Liberty and Wheeling Jesuit should be really good again on both the men and women’s fronts.

Though basketball is still a few weeks away, a lot of former area athletes continued to shine in fall sports.

Here’s a look at those athletes:

Football

Division I

ROSS COMIS, UMass — Madonna graduate saw time in the Minutemen’s loss to Old Dominion. He completed 3-of-7 passes for 12 yards and rushed three times for 15 yards.

ELIJIAH BELL, North Carolina A&T — Wheeling Park product caught two passes for 14 yards and a touchdown in last week’s game.

NAJEE MURRAY, Kent State — Steubenville graduate had five tackles and five pass break ups in the Golden Flashes’ win last week.

CHUCKWUDI CHUCKWU, Ohio — Linsly product appeared in the Bobcats’ win over Bowling Green last week.

Division II

DAN MONTEROSO, West Liberty — St. Clairsville graduate caught 9 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns. He also punted five times for a 41.8 yard average, dropping two inside the 20.

COREY ERNEST, West Liberty — St. Clairsville product started once again at left guard for the Hilltoppers in their victory.

ROBERT VARGO, Ohio Dominican — Martins Ferry graduate started at right tackle in last week’s victory.

MATT BARBOUR, Ohio Dominican — Martins Ferry graduate caught his first two collegiate passes for 30 yards in last week’s win over Lake Erie College.

MATT PETRELLA, Ohio Dominican — Steubenville product made a reception for 18 yards in last week’s victory.

STEPHEN ROGALSKI, West Virginia Wesleyan — Magnolia product made a catch for 22 yards in last week’s loss.

ZACH PHILLIPS, Gannon — Wheeling Park product completed 17-of-36 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown in last week’s loss.

GEREMY PAIGE, Gannon — Ex-Wheeling Park Patriot had one tackle in last week’s loss.

MATT HACKATHORN, Gannon — Former Wheeling Park standout started once again at right tackle for the Knights.

JAMEZ COLES, Gannon — True freshman from Park had one tackle from his secondary spot last week.

CLIFFORD CLARK, West Liberty — Former Cambridge Bobcat had a team-high 9 tackles in last week’s victory.

AUSTIN WHIPKEY, West Liberty — Ex-Linsly standout played along the line for the Hilltoppers in their win against Charleston.

CODY RINE, West Liberty — Brooke product had a tackle in last week’s win.

ZACH CONNOR, West Liberty — Indian Creek graduate had tackles in the WLU victory last week.

THEO BLACKSTON, Mercyhurst — Wheeling Park product had one tackle in last week’s game.

Division III

DALTON SECHREST, Marietta — Former Beallsville standout recorded four tackles in last week’s loss.

TANNER CLARK, Marietta — Caldwell graduate had a reception for 10 yards and a rush for 6 yards in last week’s game.

ZACH HERRINGTON, Mt. Union — Steubenville Central product caught 3 passes for 40 yards.

DASHON REDMAN, Mt. Union — Steubenville grad had seven tackles, a sack and a blocked kick. He also had a return for 8 yards.

BRETT ROSEN, Muskingum — River graduate recorded a season-high five tackles, including one for loss for the Muskies.

CHASE KINEMOND, Bethany — Former Shadyside standout completed 8-of-20 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown last week.

DAULTON FREEMAN, Bethany — Former St. C. standout had eight tackles and he broke up a pass last week.

CHRISTIAN WITCHEY, St. Vincent — St. Clairsville alumnus punted five times for a 35.2 yard average, including a long of 48 yards.

JOHN ECKROTH, Heidelburg — Steubenville graduate had one tackle in last week’s loss.

VON WOODING, Oberlin — Ex-Linsly Cadet posted a team-high eight tackles with one of those being for a loss.

HAYDEN GAUS, Kenyon College — Linsly product had three tackles in last week’s game.

MILES OLADIMJI, Allegheny College — Linsly grad had two tackles in a loss to Thiel.

Soccer

ZACH OLIVER, Thiel — Former St. Clairsville standout recorded an assist last week in a loss for the Tomcats.

Cross Country

HANNAH SURFACE, Alderson-Broaddus — East Richland Christian grad finished 34th and second on her team at a meet at Carnegie-Mellon.

KELSEY CHAMBERS, Wheeling Jesuit — Former Oak Glen Golden Bear won the Lake Erie Invitational by 20 seconds. She ran a 16:07.94 to claim her third consecutive MEC Runner of the Week honor.

FALLON DOYLE, Wheeling Jesuit — St. John Central grad finished 14th in the meet with a time of 17:23.29.

JENNA FURR, Wheeling Jesuit — Caldwell graduate was fifth for WJU and 25th overall with a 17:43.32.

TYLER STEWART, Wheeling Jesuit — Bellaire grad was fifth for the Cardinals and 45th overall in 29:26.77.

Golf

KAITLYN BLISS, West Liberty — Former Martins Ferry Purple Rider finished 12th in the MEC Tourney. She posted a 264 for the three-round event, including a low round of 81 in the final round.

If you know of other area athletes playing at the collegiate level, feel free to drop me an email at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com