Transitioning from one sport to another has become routine for guys such as Brock DeCicco, Jim Giansante and Steve Licht.

A season ago, the trio were part of a Thomas Jefferson football team which won a PIAA title and, just a few days later, they were on the basketball court -- sans barely any practice time -- in regular- season games with the Jaguars' team.

Quickly getting into "basketball shape" is typically a steep challenge for players fresh off football season, and the Jaguars 2-8 start a season ago proved it.

This season, the Jaguars won another PIAA football title, and those players again jumped directly into basketball.

"Not many teams could handle what we've handled," said Thomas Jefferson coach Dom DeCicco. "I've always told people, 'Judge our teams by the way we're playing at the end of January, not the way we start.'"

If that theory holds true again, this Jaguars team could be "scary good" come January, February and maybe even March.

It's been a changeup, of sorts, for Thomas Jefferson, as the Jaguars have clawed their way to a 6-1 start. Included in the early-season hot streak is a 2-0 start in Class AAA Section 5, as well as a pair of wins in the KSA Classic in Florida, all of which leads one to believe this is a team that could be a serious player in the postseason.

"I don't think this start is an anomaly. I expected this team to be very good, and it's getting better every day," Dom DeCicco said this past Saturday, shortly after the Jaguars concluded just their fourth practice of the season.

Despite the limited practice time, DeCicco said his team developed some cohesion on its trip to Orlando. The Jaguars won their first two games of the tournament, defeating teams from California and Canada, before falling to Fox Chapel.

"It's probably the most important thing we've done since I've been here. I could see us really come together as a team," he said.

Ranked No. 3 in Class AAA by the Post-Gazette, the Jaguars are led by a strong frontcourt made up of 6-foot-6 senior forward Brock DeCicco, 6-4 senior center Nate Boal and Giansante, a 6-1 junior forward. The trio is one of the most formidable in Class AAA. DeCicco earned all-section honors while averaging 14.5 points per game last season.

But, as Dom DeCicco said, what separates this Jaguars team from those in recent history has been the stellar guard play.

"We've always had good inside presence, but this is the first time we've had the combination where we can score from different areas on the floor," DeCicco said.

"[The inside game] is our bread and butter, but when teams double-team us down low or play zone, we can shoot it better than most of the teams I've had."

Leading the charge on the perimeter is Licht, a 6-1 junior who has showed a consistent stroke from 3-point range and is the Jaguars' best rebounding guard.

"He plays like he's 6-5 because he's so long," DeCicco said.

The other half of the backcourt is manned by junior point guard Gus Smith, who DeCicco said has done a good job running the offense.

The top reserves have been senior Sean Fagen and sophomores Mike Horn and T.J. Matrascia.

With everybody focused on basketball and an inside-outside game that can possibly rival any in Class AAA, the Jaguars would love to add a WPIAL basketball trophy to the school's rapidly accumulating football hardware.

"I expect to be playing late into February and into March," DeCicco said. "I think this team has a chance to be a great basketball team."