See that guy in the photograph, the second one from the left? That's Penn Wood center Shawn Oakman. The 6-9 sophomore doesn't like to get bullied. It doesn't happen too often, but against Chester last season, it happened four times.

"It was like we were the younger brother that was getting picked on and beaten up by an older brother all season long," he said. "I'm done with that. Now we're the older brother and Chester is going to get picked on some. It's our turn."

Oakman and the Patriots will have a chance at redemption (actually two of them, in the regular season at least). The 2008-09 season is upon us.

Outside of the Del Val League, here's the Delco Roundup of what's expected from the rest of Delaware County. A new feature of the winter sports previews is something we called High Fives, highlighting the five top players (in no particular order) at certain skills. Check 'em out.

There are tons of games tonight, including several notable tip off tournaments. Pick up a copy of Friday's Daily Times for all the times and sites.

Enjoy the preview stuff.

The boys basketball season isn't one day old yet and there are so many storylines to follow.

There are so many that they all could not fit into the Daily Times' season preview, which appears in Friday's edition. Here are a few others to keep your eyes on this year:

1. Is Soutiri Sapnas for real? The Marple Newtown junior (pictured), who lit the Central League on fire last season with his rampant scoring, will move to the point guard position this winter. Will he continue his torrid scoring ways?

2. Sun Valley's Tom Brennan needs 41 points to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for his career. That being said, Brennan averaged 24 ppg last year, so it might only take two games to get there.

3. Remember this guy? The school he used to play for formed into New Beginnings Academy, which will play The Christian Academy Friday night in the Delco Christian Tip Off Tournament.

For more, pick up a copy of Friday's Daily Times. And get out and enjoy a game!

Episcopal Academy and The Haverford School opened their basketball seasons Tuesday. But for the remainder of Delaware County, the season begins Friday.

That's when the Daily Times' boys and girls basketball season previews will hit newsstands.

Sophomore center Shawn Oakman, pictured, and the Penn Wood Patriots are tapped by many Delco coaches as the team to beat in the Del Val and District One.

Obviously, their reputation extends beyong Delco. The Patriots are ranked No. 40 nationally by ESPN/Rise Magazine's Fab 50. And they're No. 9 in PrepNation's East Coast regional rankings.

Time will tell if the Patriots are for real. But we'll have a better grasp after Friday.

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***Episcopal Acad. 43, Abington Friends 41: Sophomore Isaiah Baker scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the first game at EA's O'Neill Gymnasium.

***Friends' Central 66, Hav. School 37: Senior A.J. Jones dropped in 10 points in the season opener for the Fords (0-1).

The basketballs have been bouncing for two weeks now, since winter sports teams opened their practice schedule Nov. 17.

It's basketball season.

Most teams will christen their campaigns Friday, on opening night. That's also when the Daily Times' boys basketball preview will hit newsstands.

In the meantime, here's what you should know about the 2008-09 season:

***Chester, which lost all but one player (F Rahlir Jefferson) from their PIAA Class AAAA state-championship starting five, have a long way to go to get back. But you can never count out the Clippers (pictured).

***Penn Wood, which lost four meetings with Chester, looks to be the heir apparent to the Del Val League championship. The Patriots return their entire lineup - including All-Delco F Duane Johnson, So. PG Tyree Johnson, So. C Shawn Oakman and Sr. F Thomas White. They also have Roman Catholic transfer Aaron Brown, a 6-6 sophomore. Look out, District One.

***Ridley, co-Central League champion, is one of many teams vying for the title in a wide-open race. Conestoga and Lower Merion, the other co-champ, are early favorites. Penncrest, which doesn't have much of a hoops legacy, will surprise folks.

There's more to come on Friday. Stay tuned.