West Aurora eyes big bounce back season
West Aurora coach Gordon Kerkman thought last season’s 13-16 record, the Blackhawks’ first losing campaign since 1992-93, was a little misleading.
“Even though our record was sub-. 500 it didn’t feel like that kind of season,” said the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Famer, whose fourth win this season will make him the 14th prep coach in state history to reach 700 victories according to Illinois High School Association records.
“For the most part I thought it was a fun group to work with,” he said. “We had some deficiencies and hopefully we filled those deficiencies. If we can play a little better defense and rebound a little better I think we can be a pretty good basketball team.”
Kerkman, who in 2009-10 saw his Blackhawks start off 1-7 then soar to a regional final they lost in overtime, has yet to be completely satisfied with either of those facets.
There are candidates for the job. Guard Brandon Hayes (4.2 points per game) may assume the stopper role. Rebounding could fall to a deep frontcourt including returning starter 6-foot-7 Kyle Pilmer (5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds), 6-6 Jalen Woodson, 6-4 Marcel Neil, 6-2 center Jonathan Dennison and 6-8 Paul Clausen.
Asked about scoring and Kerkman lets loose with another squadron: Neil, outside bomber Tommy Goulding who in sparse minutes last season hit 5 of 8 three-pointers Jontrel Walker and, of course, Juwan Starks.
The 6-4 All-Area junior forward surmounted leg injuries to reap team highs of 12.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He’s been contacted by a variety of schools including DePaul, St. Louis and Minnesota. Kerkman thinks the list will get longer.
“He can be a tremendous shooter at times,” Kerkman said, “and that’s most of the time.”
Starks has been a key player for West Aurora since his freshman year. As the Blackhawks again open at the tough Rock Island Shootout, underclassmen such as the poised Walker younger brother of former star Johnny Walker JayQuan Lee and Chandler Thomas may also get their chance on a deep and promising roster.
Especially if they do at least one of two things.
“If we straighten out our defense and rebounding deficiencies,” Kerkman said, “I think we could be pretty good.”
Quick facts
Coach: Gordon Kerkman (34 years, 696-274)
Last year: 13-16, 6-8 and fifth in the DuPage Valley Conference; lost 66-62 to Oswego East in the Class 4A Waubonsie Valley regional final.
Players to watch: Jonathan Dennison, sr., C; Tommie Goulding, sr., G; Brandon Hayes, sr., G; Marcel Neil, jr., F; Kyle Pilmer, sr., C; Juwan Starks, sr., F; Jontrel Walker, fr., 5-10, G; Jalen Woodson, sr., C.