Paul Liner’s program has become no stranger to the big stage. Now Needham is hoping to take the step.

One year after falling short in the Div. 1 State Finals, Needham figures to be in the mix once again with guards Brian Cloonan and Jackson Shaw leading the way. Needham will have its chances to prove its mettle with Newton North, Brookline, BC High, North Andover, and the Comcast Tournament all on the schedule.

“We are not looking past anyone or looking forward to anyone. We are focused on what we need to do to get better now,” Liner said. “Last year at this time, we were not the same team as we were in March.”

Along with Cloonan and Shaw, Campbell Keyes and Aidan Williams figure to be key factors in the Rockets’ success. The team that toppled Needham in the final — Worcester North — will be in the running once again. Along with the Rockets from the Bay State, Newton North and Natick will be in the mix.

Denis Tobin’s group figures to be a serious contender as Catholic Memorial returns the senior trio of Matt St. Martin, Ryan Higgins, and Jacob Cofield. Junior guard James Larranaga is healthy after suffering an injury that kept him sidelined a season ago. The Knights will not have to go far to find competition for the crown as Catholic Conference rival BC High has the makings of a contender. Senior guard Ivan Yhomby and Colby-bound forward Dan Civello will make the Eagles a tough out.

The Merrimack Valley Conference is littered with strong teams. North Andover fell to the aforementioned Rockets in the Div. 1 state semifinals and returns Boston Herald Dream Teamer Zach Wolinski along with Zach Desroshers and Cam Bethel. Lawrence has Obbie Luciano, Igor Gonzalez, and sophomore Francisco Santana, who holds an offer from Georgetown.

While Mark Dunham’s Central Catholic group lost production, it has plenty of reason to be optimistic with sophomore Javi Lopez leading the way. Lowell and Andover will be dangerous.

Franklin is in the fold with returning Hockomock League most valuable player Sean O’Leary to go with Henry DiGiorgio. Colbey Santos is now at the helm at Taunton and has Troy Santos to build around. Attleboro is a sleeper.

Malden Catholic has won consecutive Div. 2 state titles and looks to be the favorite once again. Matthew Gaffney is one of the premier scorers in Eastern Mass. while Bo Moody is a three year starter.

“We have some kids out due to injury. When they come back it will help,” Malden Catholic coach John Walsh said. “We only have two seniors that will really play. We have a bunch of freshmen who will get minutes and once they get settled I think there is some potential.”

The Lancers will have plenty of formidable foes. Mike Vaughan’s Mansfield group returns Trevor Foley and Devon Sanders but will have to make things work without scorer Eddie McCoy who is sidelined for the season.

Fresh off a Div. 3 state title, Archbishop Williams moves up to Div. 2 in the latest realignment. The Bishops will lean heavily on guard Tristan Rodriguez and forward Tommy McDonagh.

Sharon had a standout campaign year ago and is looking to take the next step. Jacob McLaughlin will be the go-to guy, while Nate Katznelson opened some eyes with a 47-point salvo against Taunton..

Dartmouth surged last season and should be a player in 2023-24. The Indians have 6-foot-6 forward Hunter Matteson and are challenging themselves by playing the likes of Franklin while also participating in the Spartan Classic at the end of the year.

Whitman-Hanson has the duo of sophomore forward Isaiah Bean-Brittan and junior guard Ryan Baker while Duxbury is a team to watch with sharpshooter Trevor Jones leading the attack. Michael Porter may be the top shooter on the south shore and is set to lead a strong Scituate group.

Cedric Rodriguez was one of top scorers in Eastern Mass. and this year figures to be no different. Rodriguez and James Ellis will make Burlington a team to watch.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN DIV. 1-2

C: Jacob Cofield (Catholic Memorial), Chidi Nwosu (Brockton), Tyson Robinson (Newton South)

F: Noah Basgard (St. John’s Shrewsbury), Isaiah Bean-Brittan (Whitman-Hanson), Evan Briggs (Barnstable), Lorenzo Carrara (Xaverian), Dan Civello (BC High), Jaysaun Coggins (Everett), Ryan Commoss (Marblehead), Alexander Delgado (Haverhill), Ryan Dooley (Lincoln-Sudbury), Trevor Foley (Mansfield), Igor Gonzalez (Lawrence), Nate Katznelson (Sharon), Kyle Kemembin (Lynn English), Collett Kinobe (Acton-Boxboro), Edric Louissaint (Weymouth), Hunter Matteson (Dartmouth), Luke Montejo (Tewksbury), Sean O’Leary (Franklin), Luca Palermo (Andover), Sam Pantera (Hopkinton), Sam Perry (Diman), Vishal Rampur (Westford Academy), Francisco Santana (Lawrence), Camdyn Shoesmith (Bedford), Jeffrey White (Cambridge)

G: Tyler Allen (Chelmsford), Isaiah Andino (Methuen), Tzar Powell Aparicio (Lowell), Ryan Asarpour (Lexington), De’ari Burton (Wakefield), Ryan Baker (Whitman-Hanson), Justice Buchannan (Bedford), Brian Cloonan (Needham), Noe Diaz (Beverly), Henry DiGiorgio (Franklin), Gill Dolan (Weymouth), Ryan Donovan (Bristol-Plymouth), Jeyden Espinal (Durfee), Ka’ron Ford (Barnstable), Anthony Forte (Peabody), Matthew Gaffney (Malden Catholic), Denzel Guillen (Lynn English), Chais Harriette (Cambridge), Ryan Higgins (Catholic Memorial), Trevor Jones (Duxbury), Justin LaChance (Plymouth South), Nick Lemmond (Marblehead), Javi Lopez (Central Catholic), Matt Mahoney (Norwood), Justin Marino (Medford), Brendan McDonald (Somerset Berkley), Jacob McLoughlin (Sharon), Chase Mello (Hingham), James Molloy (Marshfield), Buckley Moody (Malden Catholic), Pat Mulholland (Natick), Michael Mwaniki (Chelmsford), Koby Nguyen (North Quincy), Miles Nzui (Melrose), Derin Ongur (Lexington), Ben Paradis (Concord-Carlisle), Earl Pemberton (Methuen), Michael Porter (Scituate), Andrew Rivera (Milford), Cedric Rodriguez (Burlington), Tristan Rodriguez (Archbishop Williams), Troy Santos (Taunton), Colin Snyder (Haverhill), Brady Stevens (Weymouth), Teagan Swint (Newton North), Zach Wolinski (North Andover), Ivan Yhomby (BC High)