“(It’s the) most excited I’ve been for a team,” 6-foot-5 guard Porter Troupe said.

The IBL is a semi-pro basketball league consisting of 16 teams from around the country, one in China and one in the Netherlands. Vancouver has been with the IBL since its inception.

Troupe, whose plans of playing in Italy this year fell through, is returning for his third year with the Volcanoes.

A University of Portland product, Troupe was last year’s leading scorer, averaging 20.3 points per game.

Also returning for the Volcanoes is second leading scorer Brad Lechtenberg, a three-year guard out of San Diego.

Lechtenberg, a one-time 3-point shooting percentage leader in the NCAA Division I, averaged 17.4 points per game in limited action last season after missing much of the year a bruised hamstring.

Both 6-foot-8 forward Jake Carlisle and 6-foot-5 guard Kevin Bloodsaw are coming back for a second stint with the Volcanoes.

Bloodsaw is the all-time leading scorer in the IBL and Carlisle will provide a much-needed presence in the post for the Volcanoes.

Vancouver also returns 6-foot-5 guard Gary Muzzy and 6-foot-7 forward Alex Hartman from last year’s team that finished 6-17.

Hartman averaged 15.8 points per game and 1.3 steals for the Volcanoes last season.

The Volcanoes lost 6-foot-4 guard Darren Cooper and 6-foot-11 center Abdoulaye N’Diaye to the NBA Developmental League. Both were drafted by the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

N’Diaye is averaging 4.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 32 games and Cooper is averaging 6.8 points and 1.8 assists in four games this season.

With the departure of N’Diaye, the Volcanoes were left rather small in the middle, so in the offseason they made an effort to get some big men to anchor the middle.

“This year we have some bigs committed and we’re really looking forward to getting them this year,” Lechtenberg said.

Carlisle and 6-foot-8 forward Jimmy Watts are supposed to play all season with Vancouver, giving the Volcanoes some much-needed girth down low.

In addition, the Volcanoes will be adding 6-foot-8 forward Edjuan Green and 6-foot-11 center Shawn Malloy sometime in April. Both players are currently playing overseas.

Green averaged over 20 points per game in the IBL last season, and Malloy hopes to have a breakout year.

While the Volcanoes’ guard play has been exceptional, the much-needed help in the middle is very pleasing to returning players.

“We signed some big guys, which is where we really had problems in the past,” Troupe said.

The Volcanoes have also added to their backcourt, signing 6-foot guard Kevin Tyner, the all-time assists leader at Western Oregon.

It is expected in a league like the IBL that teams will have a high turnover, but despite all the change, Lechtenberg is confident that the camaraderie will be there for Vancouver.

“As a whole we have a good group of guys,” Lechtenberg said. “Most of the guys on our team are familiar with each other.”

In all, the team is ready for the season to start and hopes to greatly improve on last year’s record.

“If we’re .500, I think it’ll be a disappointment for us,” Troupe said.

After the Volcanoes finish a three-game road trip, they will return for their home opener March 28 at Clark College.

While the Volcanoe’s administration is still waiting on a sponsor, team owner Bryan Hunter said he wants to make opening night free for everyone.