Ravenscroft boys basketball coach Kevin Billerman always is eager to start a new season, but there is a definite heightened sense of expectation as the Ravens begin practice this week.

College coaches have made the Raleigh campus a regular stop this fall to see individual workouts by what collectively is one of the most heralded groups of underclassmen in the state.

Billerman anticipates having three juniors who are 6 feet 9 or taller. The trio, including two newcomers to the program, are considered to be major college prospects.

"They aren't on the team yet," said Billerman, a former guard at Duke. "Tryouts begin Monday. I would expect them to make the team, but they haven't yet."

The best known of the three juniors is 6-9 1/2, 200-pound Ryan Kelly, who is being recruited by North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Davidson, Richmond, William & Mary, Harvard and others.

He is the son of Doreen Kelly, who is the Ravenscroft head of school, and he has been in the program since Billerman arrived eight years ago.

"He is a very skilled big man," Billerman said. "He can shoot, dribble and pass. He plays long [with a 38.5-inch shirt sleeve] and has very good moves on the interior."

Kelly averaged 14.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.1 blocks during the Ravens' 19-11 season last year.

The other two junior big men are transfers.

Matt Wilson, a 6-11, 215-pounder, came from Millbrook.

"He is a legitimate 6-11, has good hands and is a nice perimeter jump shooter," Billerman said. "He is a little stronger than Ryan."

South Carolina, Clemson and Davidson are showing the most interest.

Aru Kok (pronounced Cook) is a refugee from Sudan. He stands 6-10 1/2, weighs 194 pounds and still is learning how to play basketball.

"He was behind a little on offense, but he has really worked hard in individual skill sessions and is getting better quickly," Billerman said. "One coach who saw him early and again last week said that the difference in his play is like night and day."

Kok's reputation recently has spread nationally. He is being recruited by N.C. State, American University, Georgetown and Baylor.

"He is extremely long [with a 40-inch sleeve length]," Billerman. "He can stand beneath the basket and reach up to 6 inches below the rim.

"He has very good feet and runs really well."

The Ravens' other major big man is 6-7 sophomore Stefan Stoyanovich, a transfer from Miami (Fla.) Palmer Trinity.

Billerman said Stoyanovich is very skilled on the perimeter and shoots well.

The Ravens probably will have an abundance of inside power, but the key man this season could be Dominic Parker, the leading scorer (16.7 points per game) on a team last season that had five players average in double figures.

"A lot of colleges like Parker, too," Billerman said.

Billerman said it is too early to project a starting lineup but that he might try to use all three of the biggest men at the same time.

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