Scouting Mundelein boys basketball

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Dick Knar, 7th season

2009-2010 record: 19-13, 4-8 Lake

2009-2010 IHSA tournament results: Lost to Libertyville in regional semifinal, 69-55.

Key players lost: G Ben Brust (Wisconsin), F Nick Delaquila, F Drew Herchenbach

Key players returning: F/C Ryan Sawvell, sr., G Robert Knar, soph., G Leavon Head, sr., G Dickie Knar, sr., G Charlie Gandolfi, sr.

Top newcomers: F Sean O'Brien, soph., F David Delgado, sr.

Outlook: Superstar Ben Brust may have taken his game, and his nearly 24-point scoring average, to the University of Wisconsin, but the Mustangs certainly won't be without star power this season. For the second year in a row, Mundelein will hang its hat on a Division I recruit. In the off-season, 6-foot-8 center Ryan Sawvell signed with the University of Evansville. He averaged 19 points and nearly 9 rebounds per game last season and will be relied upon to make the normally fast-paced Mustangs more balanced. “We have struggled in the past with our half-court offense,” Mundelein coach Dick Knar said. “We need to improve our patience to become a more efficient scoring team.”…But don't expect Mundelein to slow the pace to a crawl.

The Mustangs still feature plenty of players who can move the ball up and down the court quickly and score points in a hurry. Speedy senior Leavon Head is back for his second year as the starting points guard. And another likely Division I recruit, sophomore guard Robert Knar, made quite an impression last year as a freshman. He averaged 14.3 points and 5.2 assists per game and took a lot of pressure off of Brust and Sawvell…The Mustangs got 19 wins last season but only four in the rugged North Suburban Lake Division. Knar says that will be a point of emphasis this season. “We need to play better in conference and that all hinges on leadership,” Knar said. “Ryan Sawvell, Robert Knar, Leavon Head and (senior guard and defensive stopper) Dickie Knar have to be vocal. They will be the leaders on this team.”

Opener: Vs. Grayslake Central at Mundelein, 7:30 p.m. Monday