Scouting Bartlett boys basketball

Bartlett Hawks

Coach: Jim Wolfsmith (fourth year, 59-27)

Conference: Upstate Eight (Valley)

2009-10 record: 19-11 (6-4 UEC), Class 4A sectional champion

Top returning players: Chris Baumann (Sr., 6-1 F), Matt Chaltin (Jr., 6-3 G), David Greiter (Sr., 6-0 G), Femi Oyewole (Sr., 6-6 C), Lance Whitaker (So., 6-3 G)

Top newcomers: Marcus Aloquin (So., 5-10 PG), Jon Leigeber (Jr., 6-2 G), Russell Martin (Sr., 6-1 F), Lorenzo Mitchell (Jr., 6-4 F), Ryan Roszkowiak (Jr., 6-2 G), Joe Sabatino (Jr., 6-2 G)

Season outlook: Bartlett graduated several senior leaders responsible for last year's run to the Elite Eight, but plenty of talent remains, starting with highly regarded sophomore Lance Whitaker. From a scoring standpoint, Whitaker took a back seat as a freshman to a talented senior class, though his skills were on display in bursts. Expect those bursts more regularly this season and expect his averages of 4.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game to rise precipitously as the 6-foot-3 point guard develops into Bartlett's prime scoring option. Coaches from Purdue, Northwestern, Northern Illinois and Boston College have already been to Bartlett to visit Whitaker, a straight-A student in honors classes. “Lance is the second-most talented player I've coached, the first being Anthony Maestranzi,” Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said of the former Bartlett and NIU star, now playing professionally in Italy.

“But Lance has a physical aspect to his game Anthony never did. Anthony had the whole package in a 5-10 body. Lance is already 6-3 and his skills are approaching Anthony's as a sophomore. He'll be (the Bartlett boys program's) version of Lindsay Schrader. His potential is limitless.” Unfortunately for Bartlett's opponents, Whitaker has help. The Hawks get a huge lift from incoming junior transfer Lorenzo Mitchell, a muscular force on the interior. He started for Streamwood last year and was a rebounding machine, posting multiple double-doubles. Mitchell is the team's most experienced varsity player besides Whitaker. Femi Oyewole has a deft outside shot he didn't get to showcase much last season, though he did play a significant role in the postseason. Shooting guard Matt Chaltin inherits Labedzki's role of perimeter scorer. He hit some huge 3-pointers in the postseason last March. Volleyball player Russell Martin is coming off a successful football season as a tight end and will utilize his vertical jump as a rebounder. Marcus Aloquin is a smooth ballhandler and shooter and a good defender at the point guard position, said Wolfsmith, who says this is his deepest roster at Bartlett yet. “I have six guys who could score 15 or more points, given a fair number of attempts,” Wolfsmith said.