Aurora Central turns to its inside game
Like the entire prep sports schedule, Aurora Central Catholic is headed inside.
Last year’s guard tandem of point man Steve Hollon and all-area shooting guard Joey Guth, the Chargers’ single-season 3-point basket record holder, is gone after three years on varsity.
“Last year we didn’t have much inside-out (scoring),” said Chargers coach Nathan Drye. “This year we’re hoping to get a lot of baskets inside and that’ll also open up shots for the rest of the team.”
The presence of 6-foot-4 Robert DeMyers and 6-3 Tim Fernandez a pair of Waubonsie Valley transfers, neither of whom knew the other was coming to Aurora Central also deepens the Chargers’ inside depth. Rugged 6-3 Kent Brauweiler and 6-3 post player Paul Kaminski averaged 5.9 and 5.0 points, respectively, mainly as starters. They’ll begin the season coming off the bench.
“We’ve never had that kind of depth coming off the bench,” Drye said.
The backcourt obviously lost a ton, but returns quality players as well. Joey McEachern led Aurora Central in rebounding last year with 6.2 a game and also averaged 7.2 points, third on the team after Guth and Hollon.
Joe Medgyesi started some at the off-guard position as a freshman, but this year he comes in at point guard. The Chargers also welcome back another guard, Ryan Harreld, who averaged 5.9 points a game as a junior.
Medgyesi’s inexperience at the point guard spot draws into question the Chargers’ ability to handle the ball and control tempo until the 6-footer gets fully attuned to the job. The schedule starts strong with a Thanksgiving tournament at Joliet West, an improvement from ACC’s old digs at Sandwich, an early visit to SCC Gold pick Wheaton Academy and a Dec. 7 home game against South Elgin.
Overall, a variety of scoring options including the anticipated impact of big men Fernandez and DeMyers hitting the offensive boards gives Drye optimism down the road.
“I think eventually we should be pretty good, though I don’t know how long it’s going to take to get there,” he said. “The puzzle’s not going to be put together by November. By the end, I think we could make a run.”
Quick facts
Coach: Nate Drye (seventh year, 100-76)
Last year: 16-12, 10-2, second in the Suburban Christian Gold Division; lost 59-46 to Oswego in the Class 3A Aurora Central Catholic regional final.
Players to watch: Kent Brauweiler, sr., F; Robert DeMyers, jr., F; Tim Fernandez, sr., F; Ryan Harreld, sr., G; Paul Kaminski, jr., F; Joey McEachern, jr., G; Joe Medgyesi, so., G.