DaytonDailyNews.com

ROSS TWP. — "This is the best way to coach," Charlie Coles said earlier this week at Ross High School, where he was surrounded by more than 100 youngsters of all sizes and talents who attended his annual basketball camp.

"None of the players get cut," the Miami University coach said. "Pretty much everybody is improving. And you can say positive things to all the parents. You can make everybody happy."

So what will make Coles happy? For one thing, instant contributions from some of the newcomers to his 2007-08 RedHawks team.

There will be several new faces on the floor when Miami opens its regular season in a little more than four months. Coles was asked who he thinks will make the earliest contributions.

"Kenny Hayes," he said, referring to the 6-foot-2, 170-pound Northmont High grad who transferred to Miami from Cincinnati State. "From all indications from his play in the summer leagues, he's been phenomenal.

"I'm hoping Kenny can come in and give us a spark right away," Coles added. "It might take awhile for the other guys."

There's another transfer who's a candidate for early success, the Miami coach said. Isiah Carson, a 6-1 junior guard from Springfield South, "can find a niche on our team," Coles said. "Those are the guys who can make a difference because they're experienced."

Carson started 26 games in his two seasons at St. Bonaventure.

"The other kids are talented," Coles said, referring to incoming freshmen like 6-2 guard Rodney Haddix, 6-7 forward Dwight McCombs and 6-7 forward Nick Winbush, "but it's a matter of how quickly can they learn the college game.

"You have to not only be good to play, but be smart enough to make a contribution," the Miami coach continued. "In our league, possessions are very important, and if you go up to a place like Toledo, you can get behind early and have a hard time coming back."

One semi-newcomer, according to Coles, is junior point guard Carl Richburg, the Mason High School graduate who transferred from Southern Indiana, sat out a season and then, last year, missed 24 games due to injuries.

"I can't really tell about his health," he added. "Carl had so many injuries, I couldn't tell which one was the worst. It's been a long time since he's been healthy."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.