The buzz at Raider Pavilion is that the Moorpark College men's basketball team has its best team since the 2001 group that completed back-to-back state Final Four appearances.

Head coach Remy McCarthy isn't quite ready to agree with that sentiment, but he didn't quite disagree either.

"You just don't know how good everybody else is," said McCarthy. "But I will say this, we've never had this kind of depth."

In that vein, McCarthy has added three new assistant coaches, including former Moorpark College stars Greg Murphy and Kenny Plummer, to the staff.

"I'm glad we have five assistants because I'm afraid I wouldn't remember to put a guy in," said McCarthy. "Last year, Dwight played entirely too many minutes. We don't have to do that this year."

The Raiders' legions include former Westlake High backcourt Matt Mazarei and Kyle Olandt, former Oaks Christian star Matt Hornbuckle and Calabasas High product Redmond Parker, who redshirted at Long Beach State last year.

Hotshot freshman Justin Taylor had nearly 20 points and only missed one shot in the team's intrasquad scrimmage last week.

"Competition in practice has been fierce," said McCarthy. "Once they start playing together and stop killing each other all the time, we might develop some camaraderie."