Scouting: Fox Valley Conference boys basketball
Cary-Grove
Coach: Ralph Schuetzle (fifth year, 69-49)
2007-08 record: 18-11 (8-2 Valley Division)
Top returning players: Seniors Mike Aulert (6-6 F/C), Brandon Coleman (6-3 F), Sean Kaveney (6-4 C), Chad McCarron (6-2 F), Matt Nelsen (6-1 F), Pete Pellizari (6-1 PG), Chris Swenson (6-0 G), Mike Zasadil (5-10 F)
Top newcomer: Junior Chad McCarron (6-2 F)
Season outlook: The Trojans will need scorers after the graduation of Paul and Mark Tometich, who combined to score 53 percent of the Trojans' points last season. In fact, the top six scorers from last year are gone. However, several seniors who didn't get the ball much last year are primed to fill the bucket. "We were pretty much a two-man team last year," Trojans coach Ralph Schuetzle said. "This year we've got five or six guys who can crack double figures." Cary-Grove should again be a competitive team with solid post play balanced by returning starting point guard Pete Pellizari. He'll be joined on the outside by Swenson, a shooting guard who can shoot the 3-pointer or put it on the floor. In the lane the Trojans have the luxury of size and depth with five good-sized forwards and centers. The small forward position will be manned by Nelsen, who began practicing midweek after football ended, and Zasadil. The latter didn't get minutes on the varsity last year, but is "much improved," according to Schuetzle. Aulert and Kaveney will rotate at center. McCarron brings athleticism to the paint with his leaping ability and long reach. He could average double-digits in points. Coleman, a starting defensive lineman on the football team, lost 55 pounds since last basketball season and his game has completely changed, according to his coach. Both McCarron and Coleman can take it to the hoop or hit from beyond the arc. Adams is a left-handed shooter who saw minutes last season due to his ability to execute the offense and step out for a 3-point shot. "We're going to play a lot of guys, press and run and get teams tired," coach Ralph Schuetzle said. "We'll keep moving guys in and out. We don't have any marquee guys coming back like Jacobs, Dundee-Crown or CL South. We've only got Pellizari coming back, who averaged about 3 points a game, but we're going to surprise a heck of a lot of people. We play very hard and we play very smart. This group understands team basketball. It's a lot of fun to coach and it's going to be a lot of fun to watch."
Crystal Lake South
Coach: Dan DeBruycker (fourth season, 46-39)
2007-2008 record: 15-14 (3-7 Valley Division)
Top returning players: Seniors Eric Wilde (6-5 G-F), Steven Rogers (6-1 F), Michael McKenna (5-8 PG), Adam Olszewski (5-11 G), Michael Frericks (6-3 F)
Key newcomers: Juniors Alex Macaulay (6-0 G), Josh Walker (5-10 G)
Outlook: DeBruycker sees scoring potential with this year's unit. "I would say that out of my four years here this is the most ability we've had to score the basketball," said DeBruycker. "We have the ability to shoot the ball better from the perimeter." Wilde, Rogers, McKenna, Olszewski and Frericks all logged significant varsity minutes last year and are expected to comprise the squad's starting lineup. Wilde, who has committed to play at Army next year, averaged 10 points a game as a junior, as did Rogers, who was a starter at the end of last season. "Our five starters are all players who played 20-plus games for us," said DeBruycker. "These are guys who are comfortable out there that can score." DeBruycker would like to see the team continue to make strides on the other end of the court. "Defensively we can get better," DeBruycker said. "Our perimeter defense is getting better. We'll have to rebound because we're not the biggest team. Rebounding will be important." DeBruycker is looking forward to the potential increase on the offensive end. "It's nice not to have those 35-33 double-overtime thrillers," he laughed. "We're looking to get up and down the floor and have more opportunities for offensive success. But at the same time, we're not going to take away from our defensive presence that we've had the past couple of years."
Dundee-Crown
Coach: Lance Huber (sixth year, 76-61)
2007-08 record: 12-14 (5-5 Valley Division)
Top returning players: Seniors Jeff Beck (6-0, G), Marcus Henry (6-0 G), Colin McCarthy (6-3 F), Greg McNally (6-0 G), Freddie Parson (6-0 F), Aaron Reams (6-3 F), Andy Schuessler (6-1 G), Rob Stupar (6-3 F), Justin Strzelczyk (5-11 G)
Top newcomers: Davaughn Rounds (5-8 G)
Season outlook: The Chargers were nearly a .500 team last season despite being junior dominated. D-C should be stronger this year with 10 returning seniors, led by all-area returnee and three-year starter Jeff Beck. Last year he led the team in scoring (13.1) and was second in rebounding (5.2). Beck will be joined in the starting lineup by 6-6 center Charles Kimbrough (5.4 ppg.). D-C's tallest player has taken strides, according to coach Lance Huber, and "has a high ceiling." The rest of the positions will be manned by a rotation of experienced, capable returning players. Henry started 14 games at guard last year. McNally sank 22 3-pointers and averaged 5.1 points per game, but his practice time has been limited of late due to a bout with mononucleosis. Strzelczyk (5.0 ppg.) led the team last season with 33 makes from 3-point range. Parson (6-0, 220 pounds) gives the team another strong body in the paint. Schuessler didn't see many minutes last season but will be part of the mix this year, as will Reams. Stupar showed flashes in limited duty last season. Rounds is a transfer from Rolling Meadows who gives the team another ballhandler. Having most of last year's team back has put the Chargers ahead of where they were this time last season. "We've been able to move a little bit faster in practice with they guys we have back," Huber said. "I think they know what's expected of them and I think they expect a lot of themselves. We're excited about the season and just hoping to play our best games at the end. We'll have ups and downs like everyone else, but right now we're cautiously optimistic." The Chargers' schedule is identical to last year. They will compete in holiday tournaments at Sycamore (Thanksgiving) and Elgin.
Huntley
Coach: Marty Manning (third year 43-16)
Conference: Fox Valley (Fox Division)
2007-08 record: 20-10 (7-3 Fox)
Top returning players: Seniors Zac Boster (6-1 G), Brett DePorter (6-2 F), Tyler Lawrence (6-1 G), Jordan Neukirch (6-2 F), Zach Pettit (6-1 G)
Top newcomers: Senior Joe Kang (6-1 F); sophomores Tyler Brunschon (6-1 G), Dylan Neukirch (6-1 G)
Season outlook: Huntley has been a program on the rise under third-year coach Marty Manning. The Red Raiders had won only two regional titles before his arrival but have doubled that number in the last two seasons by winning a Class AA regional in 2006-07 and a Class 3A regional in 2007-08. This season Huntley has been bumped up to Class 4A and seeks another 20-win season and more hardware, though they still lack overall height. However, this team should have more scoring pop than last year's, which averaged 49.6 points per game. The Raiders return their top two scorers in Jordan Neukirch (9.5) and Boster (9.1). Neukirch, an Illinois State football recruit, is physically stronger than any basketball player he will face. He'll need that strength to offset what he gives away in height while guarding the other team's biggest player in the post, a new role for him defensively. Neukirch can also step outside and shoot the 3-pointer in the new motion offense, which replaces the flex. Last year he sank 23 shots from 3-point range and averaged 3.4 rebounds. Boster is a deadeye shooter who canned 68-of-157 attempts from 3-point range (43.3 percent). He was the sixth man last season. His ability to put the ball on the floor and drive to the hoop has improved since last year, according to Manning, which makes him a more dangerous shooting guard. Petit played in 28 games as a backup last year and will start at point guard. DePorter played in 30 games last season and sank 10 3-pointers, including a shot to beat Prairie Ridge in the final seconds. Brunschon is a player to watch, lean and strong with a good shooting touch. "He adds a little toughness on the court," Manning said. "He's an overall good basketball player who knows what he's doing." Dylan Neukirch's first sport is basketball. He has been elevated to the varsity to play backup point guard. The team played without Jordan Neukirch all season due to football commitments, so the Red Raiders are still finding their identity, particularly on defense. Huntley could have a very successful season if the players match the blue-collar work ethic of the previous squads. "If we can get them to play with the same kind of competitiveness and hustle as the last two teams, they could be pretty good," Manning said. "I would say they're more talented than last year's team, but they haven't yet shown the same fortitude. Last year when we needed to get stops, when we needed to make free throws and get to loose balls at the end of the game, our seniors stepped up and did that. That's why we won all those close games last year. This year I hope that exact same thing occurs, but I'm not 100 percent sure that it will yet. That's the main thing with us right now."
Jacobs
Coach: Jim Hinkle (12th season at Jacobs, 199-141)
2007-08 record: 26-3 (10-0 Valley Division)
Top returning players: Seniors Mike Barch (6-2 F), Patton Hofer (5-11 G), Conrad Krutwig (6-5 F/C), Tim Moran (6-3 F) Shane Slawek (5-11 G)
Top newcomers: Junior Sean Meyer (6-1 F), (6-0 G) Kevin Arndt (6-0 F); Sophomores sophomore Mike Peterson (6-2 G), Nick Hofman (6-1 G)
Season outlook: Star guard John Moran has graduated, but Jacobs still has enough talent coming back to make a run at a 20-win season and its third straight Valley Division title. In fact, the team T-shirt this year reads "We'll be just fine in 2009." Back are four-year varsity performers Krutwig (6-5, 225 pounds) and Tim Moran (6-3, 215), and they'll be backed up in the post by Sean Cook (6-4, 230). "If we put all three of them on the court at the same time we've got 660 pounds," coach Jim Hinkle said. "For a basketball team, we make a great offensive line." Krutwig, who recently committed to South Dakota, led the team with 7.8 rebounds per game and was second in points scored with a 15.4 average. Moran is. Barch is an outstanding leaper whose playing time has been limited due to injuries in the past. He's healthy and is expected to be a major contributor who Hinkle calls an "outstanding prospect. Peterson is the heir to the point guard position. He was brought up to the varsity as a freshman last season for the sole purpose of practicing against and learning from John Moran. Physically strong for his age at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Peterson has the build to hold his own and excel against older defenders. He'll get a baptism under fire in the season opener on Thanksgiving night when Jacobs plays at the Quincy Tournament against sophomore point guard Donivine Stewart of Bartonville-Limestone, who averaged 24 points a game as a freshman. Hofer will round out the starting five. He played in 18 games last year and worked his way into the starting lineup late in the year. Coming off the bench will be Sean Mayer, an instinctual player who has impressed in practice. Slawek might be the best defender on the perimeter and will see a lot of playing time for as a result. Jakub Skora (6-0 F) is a self-made player who took it upon himself to work hard and improve. He could earn some minutes. "We can put five or six different guys in with 3 or four starters and be fine," Hinkle said. "We have some kids capable of playing. We expect to win when we go out on the floor. I think we can play with each team when we take the court."