Head coach Jason Weaver knows what his incoming senior class brings to the table. Sean Snyder has been running the point guard position for years, and Tommy Sylvester is a returning three-point specialist.

Weaver saw them both take steps this summer, along with returner Kahleel Foster and other varsity regulars, but what was most impressive in June and July was what some lesser-known players showed their head coach. A number of underclassmen played key roles in supporting those seniors to a 5-6 record in the Cedar Beach Summer League.

“I know what Sean Snyder and Tommy Sylvester can do,” Weaver said. “I was encouraged by what I saw from a lot of the younger guys in terms of contributing. To me that was the best part of the summer. I know what some of the veteran guys are going to provide, but to get some time of the younger guys who didn’t play much varsity during the season was a really good thing.”

The list of those younger guys starts with rising sophomore Quintin Stephens. An athletic wing player, Stephens has the ability to drive the basketball and compliment Salisbury’s group of talented three-point shooters.

Much like Jack Reichenbach did a season ago, Stephens’ ability to create off the dribble figures to be crucial to open the floor for the other Falcon shooters. So far this summer, Weaver is seeing positive signs in that area.

“I thought he had a great summer for us,” Weaver said. “He’s a guy who can attack the basket and get to the line because he’s being aggressive. That’s what we need. We got a bunch of guys that can shoot, but we need somebody like Jack Reichenbach who could penetrate and attack. With Quintin being able to step up and bring us that kind of aspect to the game, I think that’s huge.”

Jack Frankenfield continues to improve in the paint, and his size will cause issues for opposing defenses. It’s just a matter of putting all of the puzzle pieces together in time for the upcoming winter season. The summer is the time to do that, and Weaver has seen plenty of improvement since the Falcons’ first game months ago.

A number of other underclassmen that showed optimism this summer was: Patrick Foley, Joe Panariello and Zach Cornish.

“I’m thinking we can be a little bit more aggressive defensively,” Weaver said. “I think we can get up and press people a little bit and change things up defensively a little bit more. I think we’re maybe a little bit more athletic than I was thinking, so I think that’s a good thing. They are some guys that can do some different things defensively, which will help us.

“I know what I’m going to get from Sean and Tommy; they are our two veteran guys and guys I count on and depend on. They brought that stability. But what some of those younger guys showed this summer was huge.”

Salisbury will hold open gyms in early September in preparation for the winter season. The Falcons also plan to compete in a number of tournaments, including one in Kutztown in October.