The Buckingham County High School varsity boys basketball team approaches its 2016-17 campaign with a variety of reasons to be optimistic.

“We are excited about the upcoming season,” returning Knights Head Coach Russ Gowin said. “Our kids have worked hard the last six months. We have some kids that really love basketball.”

It is a mostly new group, though, with junior center Brycen Newby the one returning player from last year’s squad.

Last season, Buckingham went 11-9, claimed the No. 2 seed in the Courthouse Conference 37 tournament and advanced as far as the tournament semifinals before falling by one point to Appomattox County High School.

Four starters are gone from the 2015-16 Knights team, including all-state guard Leon Ragland, who averaged 15.6 points per game.

This year’s Buckingham squad features four seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and one freshman.

Among the team’s principal standouts will be senior guard Antonio Chambers.

“He can do it all,” the coach said. “He’s got speed, he’s a great shooter, he’s a great slasher to the basket, he distributes the ball well.”

Serving as facilitator on offense will be sophomore point guard Andrew Johnson Jr.

“He will be one of the best point guards around over the next three years,” Gowin said.

Newby will be key as a rebounder and defensive specialist after making the all-conference second team last season, having averaged 10 rebounds and three blocks per game.

Providing key support from beyond the arc will be senior guard Gray Heslip, sophomore guard Peyton Taylor and freshman forward Trevor Kelly.

Junior Javon Chambers will lend quick explosiveness at the guard position.

Players on the rise include sophomore JaCorey Holman, junior William Davis, senior Sean Ayers, senior Daquarious Holman and junior Daniel Brickhill.

Buckingham begins the season Wednesday, hosting Chatham High School at 7 p.m.