Thirteen players are listed on the 2012-13 Morris varsity boys basketball roster. How many dress in Tuesday's opener at the Coal City Thanksgiving Tournament remains to be seen.

Three of the players Morris expected to be returning starters in basketball — Danny Friend, Jake Hogan and Jason Matteson — are members of the football team. On Saturday, the Redskins will face Sacred Heart-Griffin in the Class 5A football state semifinals. With a win, their season will be extended by a week — and those players will miss the Coal City basketball tournament entirely.

"For a very good reason, only one of those guys is in a basketball uniform right now — Ben Ortiz," Morris coach Joe Blumberg said of the returning four. "Jason Matteson and Jake Hogan are awfully good guards, and we sorely miss their talent, leadership, work ethic and experience.  Danny Friend still hasn't told us if he is playing or not, but he would be the fourth returning starter, and be a force in the paint.