Boy's basketball: Scouting the Fox Valley
Aurora Central
Coach: Nate Drye, fourth season.
Last year: 12-20 overall, 2-12 in the Suburban Catholic Conference (tied for seventh).
Top returning players: Mark Adams, sr., F/G; Mark Brauweiler, sr., G; Anthony Kelley, sr., G; Chase Weber, sr., F; Mike Adams, jr., F.
Top newcomers: Nick Czaja, jr., C; Steve Hollon, so., G; Joey Guth, so., G; Brian O'Donnell, jr., G.
Outlook: Just one starter departed from last year's Chargers, who were playing their best basketball at the end of the season, thanks to its current players and sophomore call-ups, which are all the newcomers listed. "Hopefully, we'll pick up where we left off," Drye said. Mark Adams was last year's leading scorer (17 ppg), but he may get some more help this year, thanks to a more balanced attack, even from his younger brother Mike, who spent a lot of time in the off-season improving his shot. "We expect a lot out of (Mark)," Drye said of the senior who eclipsed the 1,000-point mark last year. "His scoring average might stay the same or go down because we have a lot more people who can score, but if we need someone to score, he's the first one we are going to." A balanced attack is the goal, and if ACC achieves this, it might just turn its season around from last year's 12-win showing. "That would be super if we could do that," Drye said. "We may have struggled with our record last year, but we were playing our best basketball at the end of the year, and that's always my goal. We should be a better team this year."
Aurora Christian
Coach: Don Davidson, 31st season.
Last year: 21-8 overall, 6-2 in the Private School League (third place); won ninth regional in school history since joining the IHSA in 1989.
Top returning players: Phil Rutherford, sr., G.; Marcus Barnes, sr., G; Dan Owen, sr., G; T.J. McNelis, sr., F; Joe Redmond, sr., G; Eric Anderson, jr., F; David Campbell, sr., F/C; Josh Newton, sr., F/C.
Top newcomers: Travis Cleveland, jr., F; Salomon Kabongo, so., C; Nate Hill, jr., G/F; Jordan Roberts, jr., G.
Outlook: The Eagles won 21 games last season. That sure was nice, but now, it's expected again. "That's the minimum," Davidson said on winning 20 games. "I think we really can. That's what we are shooting for." This bunch has the potential to do so after losing just one senior starter. The rest are back, including a pair of double-digit scorers (Rutherford and McNelis) as well as a promising pack of new players led by Cleveland, Kabongo and Roberts. The only obstacle in the Eagles' way is a good one -- about a handful of the basketball players are still playing football (Roberts, Rutherford, Owen, Redmond, Anderson) and have not practiced with the basketball team yet. But once everyone is back and everything is in place, Aurora Christian will be ready to compete for the Private School League title and possibly an extended run in the playoffs, just like last year and like the football team. "We hope to get as far as last year and then take an even bigger step further," Davidson said, as the Eagles made it to the sectional semifinal before losing to Byron.
Batavia
Coach: Jim Roberts, 23rd season.
Last year: 23-3 overall, 13-1 in the Western Sun Conference (first place).
Top returning players: David Bryant, jr., G; Nick Fruendt, sr., G/F; Phil Albrecht, sr., G; Peter West, sr., G; Jordan Coffey, jr., F; Jordan Smith, sr., F; Ben Potter, jr., G; Jim White, sr., G/F; Stewart Charles, sr., G; Jordan Church, sr., F.
Top newcomers: Alex Berg, jr., C; Ricky Clopton, so., F/C; Jay Douglas, jr., G; Evan Olexa, jr., C.
Outlook: Fruendt, last year's all-area captain and only Division-I athlete signed for basketball in the area, returns for his fourth and final season with the Bulldogs. "He's gotten stronger, he's gotten quicker and he's jumping as well as he's ever," Roberts said of Fruendt, who is heading to Northwestern next year. "With that in mind, he's continued to improve his play." Even though Fruendt will lead the pack, he's got an excellent supporting cast behind him, including a pair of guards in Bryant and Albrecht and the trio of Jordans -- Coffey, Church and Smith. Coffey came up halfway through the season last year after Smith fell to injury. Church was injured for most of last year, but all three will do damage. The Bulldogs only lost one starter and have just four new players, including one sophomore, Clopton, who is one of the tallest players on the team at 6-foot-5.
Geneva
Coach: Tim Pease, 15th season.
Last year: 12-14 overall, 6-8 in the Western Sun Conference (tied for fourth place).
Top returning players: Alex Turnowchyk, sr., G; Max Cary, sr., G; Chris Jordan, sr., F; Rob Tauscher, jr., F; Isaiah Bock, sr., G.
Top newcomers: Jake Tauscher, jr., G; Tyler Scofield, jr., F; Jerry D'Amico, jr., G/F; Christian Frederking, jr., G/F.
Outlook: Turnowchyk, Cary and Jordan are the three players the Vikings are going to be relying on the most. "We are getting a lot of leadership from them," Pease said. "They are three kids that committed themselves in the off-season to getting better. Obviously, that is going to make our team stronger." As for the whole team, Pease has several things in mind he wants his Vikings to do. "We are hoping this group can get up and down the court and play with a lot of speed, get to the basket," Pease said. "We want to do that having played great defense, baseline to baseline." Pease said he is "very excited" about the new pack of juniors who are expected to contribute immediately, including D'Amico (for ball-handling and scoring), Scofield (for rebounding), Frederking (for all-around play in three different positions). A 12-win season is not what these Vikings are expecting this year. "We felt that last year, there were some games that slipped through our fingertips," Pease said. "So we've been working hard since the spring to keep those things from happening again."
Kaneland
Coach: Dennis Hansen, second season.
Last year: 14-12 overall, 9-5 in the Western Sun Conference (second place).
Top returning players: Kevin Green, sr., G; Nick Wagner, sr., G/F; Nate Peters, sr., F.
Top newcomers: Brody Root, jr., G; Curtis Lubic, jr., G; Chris Ott, jr., G; Danny Arnold, jr., F; Joe Spitzzeri, jr., G; Christian Dillon, jr., C; Mike Pritchard, jr., F; Ryan Blake, jr., G; Steve Colombe, so., F; Dave Dudzinski, so., C; Ryley Bailey, so., G.
Outlook: Kaneland's entire starting lineup graduated and only three players are back from last year's team. Of those three, Wagner and Green had limited experience, but Wagner should be the one the Knights are going to rely on the most -- at least at the start of the season. "We'll be looking to him as the main scoring threat," Hansen said. Eleven new players are on the roster, including a 6-foot-8 player in Dudzinski. Eight of those 11 players are juniors, so this team may be something to reckon with in the future. For now, the Knights hope to gain experience and try to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. "(The newcomers) are fighting for playing time, so they are working hard," Hansen said.
Marmion
Coach: Rashon Burno, first season.
Last year: 16-11 overall, 7-7 in the Suburban Catholic Conference (fifth place).
Top returning players: Robert Reder, sr., G; Manny Juarez, sr., G; Sean Fichtel, jr., F; Luke Colquist, sr., F; Tyler Smith, sr., C.
Top newcomers: Mike Dewig, jr., G; Robbie Whitehead, jr., G; Bryce Emroy, jr., F; David Brouch, jr., G; John Mason, so., F; James O'Shaugnessy, so., F.
Outlook: Burno, a former DePaul guard, is the only new coach in the area this season. He's still getting acquainted with the Cadets -- the team has been a full unit for just about two and a half weeks. "The kids are responding well," said Burno, who replaced Pat McNamara. "(But) we have a long way to go. They are still learning due to the fact that it's a new system. I pay more attention to detail. I'm more concerned with the effort, and the effort is there." Expecting to lead the Cadets is Juarez. "He'll be required to do multiple things," Burno said. "He's strong and smart." Smith and Fichtel are also in the mix with Juarez. "We are leaning heavily on them to carry the load," Burno said. The new players are also expected to make an instant impact as well after the Cadets lost 7 to graduation, including their two top scorers.
St. Charles East
Coach: Brian Clodi, fifth season.
Last year: 15-16 overall, 4-6 in the Upstate Eight Conference (seventh in the regular season, fifth in the tournament). Won 24th regional title in school history.
Top returning players: Ryan Suits, sr., F; Marc Stelatto, sr., G; Kevin Senechalle, jr., C; Mike Manisco, sr., G; Jordan Fisher, sr., G; Brian Lankton, sr., G; Cam Caruso, sr., G; Jake Krzeczowski, sr., F; Collin Pryor, sr., G; Zach Scott, so., G.
Top newcomers: Phil Kohlhagen, jr., PG; Matt Jurewicz, jr., G; Jeff Jones, jr., G; Joe Vitali, jr., C; Tim Russell, jr., F.
Outlook: The Saints may have lost a lot (7 players to graduation), but return a lot as well. Guiding the way with his all-around game is last year's leading scorer in Pryor, who is headed to D-II's Northern State University in South Dakota. "We think he can really take off," Clodi said. "We think he can definitely make our team better." Six newcomers and 8 returning seniors grace this year's roster. In his second year on varsity, Senechalle should lead the junior class and is expected to have a breakout year. "I'm telling you, he's going to be someone teams are going to have to recognize," Clodi said. There is no doubt the Saints had a nice off-season after playing 65 games together. How that translates to the varsity level is to be determined. "They stayed together," Clodi said of off-season play. "But when it comes to a varsity high school game, we are very inexperienced. We have 26 (points) and 16 (rebounds) if you add all the averages together on the players that are back. That's not very much. Collin was the show, these guys got to watch and contribute very minutely. But through hard work and preparation, now is their time. They are starting to play as a nice group, and we are really excited about that."
St. Charles North
Coach: Tom Poulin, second season.
Last year: 16-15 overall, 6-4 in the Upstate Eight Conference (tied for fourth place in the regular season, seventh place in the tournament).
Top returning players: Nick Neari, jr., G; Joe Deliberto, sr., G; Nic Higgins, sr., G; Jonathan DeMoss, jr., F/G; Tim Janeway, sr., F; Austin Peterson, sr., F; Rusty Lavaja, sr., C.
Top newcomers: Mike Lefelstein, jr., G; Eric Battle, jr., G; Mike Kastel, jr., F/C; Jake Thornton, sr., G; Danny Jimenez, sr., F/C; Jake Juriga, jr., F; Chris Nelson, jr., F; Zach Hirsch, jr., F.
Outlook: This super-athletic group is poised to do great things in Poulin's second season as coach. Seven players on the roster play football (where Poulin is also an assistant), three play baseball and one is on the volleyball team. "These kids have been successful and expect to win," Poulin said. This bunch is also expected to play well together, as most of the seniors have been playing together since middle school. Jimenez, Thornton, Neari, Janeway and Deliberto were all starters on the sophomore team that Poulin coached in the 2005-06 season. That team went 21-5. DeMoss and Higgins are also entering their third season on varsity. These things, along with the fact that the North Stars get along very well and are friends off the court, is what is going to help them have a solid season. "This is a tight group," Poulin said, noting that last weekend's team-bonding trip rock-climbing helped team chemistry. "It's like we are already in mid-season form. It's already there."
West Aurora
Coach: Gordie Kerkman, 32nd season.
Last year: 14-13 overall, 8-6 in the DuPage Valley Conference (tied for third place).
Top returning players: Markus Cocroft, jr., G; Marquis Stewart, sr., G; Bobby Hickson, sr., G/F; Corbin Spearman, sr., G/F; Theo Hicks, sr., G/F; Tyler Thompson, sr., C/F.
Top new players: Jamal Blackmond, jr., G; Derrick Johnson, so., G/F; Malcom Graham, jr., G; Bryson Hughes, jr., G.
Outlook: For some teams, a just-above-.500 record is good enough. Not the Blackhawks. "(The 14-13 record) didn't sit too well with us," Kerkman said of last year's overall showing. "Obviously, we are looking to improve on that quite a bit." This group has the potential to do so, as Thompson, who will play at D-II's Quincy University next year, leads the pack in experience in his third year on varsity. "We expect quite a bit from him," Kerkman said of the post player, who averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds a game last year. "He has quite a bit of potential." Also expected to have a breakthrough year is Hicks. "He's a young man who really came on in the summer. He'll be a force to reckon with," Kerkman said. Spearman and Blackmond are also showing a lot of potential. Speed is the No. 1 thing on the guards' side, as Cocroft and Stewart will be battling for time at the point.
-- compiled by Christine Bolin