Detroit Catholic Central's next great big man Josh Ross is already getting triple-teamed

As Josh Ross walked off the court Tuesday afternoon at Macomb Community College, the Detroit Catholic Central senior looked behind him toward his left, and then he looked to his right. 

"Yeah, I'm lonely out here," the 6-foot-5, 225-pound power forward said with a smile. 

That can happen when you graduate seven seniors from a boys basketball team that not only was the Catholic League tournament runner-up but also a Division 1 state quarterfinalist. 

Ross is the lone remaining big man with considerable experience from last year's squad. He was usually the first or second guy off the bench, depending on a game's scenario. But he deserved to be out there. 

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The Shamrocks have some up-and-comers in the post. And judging by 6-foot-10 center Joey Naasko's hustle during The D Zone Shootout showcase, the senior will also offer some help. 

But, for right now, it's Ross who is No. 1 on that part of any opposing team's scouting report. The "keys to winning the rebound battle" portion of the report will have Ross' name double underlined and in boldface type. Teams will want to stop him. 

Keep Ross off the boards, and you'll keep him from getting put-backs and and-ones 

If you can, that is. 

The Shamrocks went 3-0 on the day at Macomb CC Sports and Expo Center. 

Their final game, a 58-38 runaway win, saw Ferndale University sometimes double- and triple-team Ross from getting rebounds. He still got the boards. He still got to the line. And he still kept plays alive for the Shamrocks. 

There's no doubt who's going to be battling in the paint for CC next winter. 

"It's his turn," coach Brandon Sinawi said. "He's definitely earned it, and he's got every single opportunity to be great. He'll be a captain for us next year, and he's excited about that. He's been in the weight room. He's waited his time. 

"His bread and butter is going to be in the painted area, but his athleticism is going to surprise people on the wing, and we're definitely looking to get him more acclimated when it comes to playing on the outside. I can't play him 24, 26 minutes a game in the post because he wants to play in college, but there will be times when he will be needed in the interior, and he'll be a double-double threat there. 

"He can get after the glass, and he has good moves inside. He's so strong and relentless when it comes to offensive rebounding and keeping plays alive. He's going to get a ton of minutes this year." 

Ross transferred to CC from Berkley as a freshman and spent half a season on the JV. 

But he's been on the varsity ever since. 

And he actually saw his minutes go down a year ago because of how talented CC was. 

Oakland University signee Cooper Craggs brought both an inside and outside presence at power forward, while small forward Kam Mayes had a breakout year as a ball-handler, shooter and, at times, a scorer down low. 

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Sprinkle in heads-up play from the other seniors as well as shooting guard TJ Nadeau and former CC point guard Chas Lewless, and that recipe makes for fewer minutes for your stereotypical Tyler Hansbrough type of forward that Ross plays as. 

But that's OK. Ross loved learning under Craggs, Mayes and the other two starting seniors. 

"It's rough (being alone now) because I love those guys," Ross said. "But we're gonna have to shift how we play this year. I grew up looking up to those guys as my mentors, and now it's kind of my turn to take that role, and I'm excited. I've always wanted this chance. Personally, I knew I've had it in me, so I'm ready to go.

"I'm fired up for this year." 

The Shamrocks, who were 16-9 overall last winter, return Nadeau, who was their leading scorer, and they welcome in Uchenna Amene, a junior point guard who transferred in from D-4 powerhouse Southfield Christian. 

Many around the CHSL will look at CC as a team in a rebuild. 

If Ross can be the double-double machine that Sinawi predicts him to be, the Shamrocks will upset some teams. And Sinawi expects another district title with this younger squad. 

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"It's going to be an effort thing," Ross added. "I think we definitely can compete against those kinds of guys. It'll be really interesting to see how we play them and how our team does." 

Ross didn't lack the effort at The D Zone Shootout. Just ask Williamston, Clarkston and Ferndale University. He was all over the boards. 

Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on Twitter @folsombrandonj.