Scouting Antioch boys basketball

ANTIOCH

Coach: Mike Skinner, 4th season

2009-2010 record: 9-20, 5-7 Prairie

2009-2010 IHSA tournament results: Lost to Johnsburg in regional semifinal, 56-37.

Key players returning: F/C Karl Nettgen, jr., F William Washow, jr., F/C Kellen Kay, sr.

Top newcomers: F Mike Barakat, sr., F Mike Siperko, sr., F Ryan Hartman, sr., F Sam Green, sr., F/C Austin Vogal, jr., G Emery Paramski, jr.

Outlook: Antioch got just 9 wins last season. But five of them came in the Prairie Division. Considering that one of their top scorers is back, the summer was a success and some new blood is energizing practices, the Sequoits aren't just optimistic for improvement, they're expecting it. Antioch believes nearly doubling its win total is completely doable with its cast this season. “These guys are for real this season,” said Antioch coach Mike Skinner, who enters his fourth season with as much excitement as he ever has. “I am proud to say I am their coach. This is by far the best team that I've ever had at Antioch. We (set) our goals at the start of the summer. That is to win at least 16 games and to win a regional championship.”…

The Sequoits will lean heavily on junior post player Karl Nettgen, who averaged 10 points per game last year as a sophomore. He's 6-foot-5 and is just one of several players who give Antioch nice height. Senior Kellen Kay is 6-foot-4 and averaged 7 points per game last year while newcomers Austin Vogal and Mike Barakat are 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-4, respectively. Barakat played in the program as a freshman and sophomore but was ineligible to play last season because of grades. He got a tutor and is now making A's and B's. His on-court production has skyrocketed, too. “This kid can play the 1, 2 or 3, shoots from NBA range and can break down anyone off the dribble,” Skinner said of Barakat. “Look for him to have a breakout year.”

Opener: Vs. McHenry at Crystal Lake Central, 6 p.m. Monday