Portlaoise have been drawn in a difficult conference this season.
Portlaoise Panthers head coach Niall Berry is hopeful that his young squad can take the next step this season.
The Laois team have been drawn in the southern conference of division one alongside Team Kerry, St Pauls, Limerick Celtics and UL Eagles, Fr Mathews of Cork, Waterford IT and IT Carlow.
It's initially being adopted for one year but if successful, basketball Ireland could keep the system going forward.
Portlaoise finished with a 5-17 record last year but the average age of the side was just 18 and a half years old.
Berry says he's expected a stiff challenge in conference play:
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