Scouting DuPage County local college men's basketball
Top teams: Benedictine, College of DuPage, Wheaton.
Top players: Benedictine: Nate Green, g, so.; Dan Klecan, f, jr.; Cameron Snelling g, jr.; College of DuPage: Kenny Ogbuokiri, c, so. Devin Smith (Hinsdale South) g, fr.; Deon Thomas (Downers Grove North), f, so.; Elmhurst: Dustin Bainter, g, sr.; Zack Boyd, g, so; Chris Childs, g, sr. North Central: Reid Barringer, g, sr.; Derek Raridon (Neuqua Valley), f, fr; David Twyman, g/f, sr.; Wheaton: Jake Carwell (Timothy Christian), c, sr.; Andrew Jahns (Wheaton North), g, jr. Tim McCrary, f, so.; Ben Panner, g, sr.
Outlook: Wheaton, which saw coach Bill Harris retire after 18 years, loses all-time second-leading scorer Kent Raymond and all-region center Andy Wiele from last year's 26-4 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin champs. First-year coach Mike Schauer inherits four regulars, led by the versatile Panner, who averaged 13 points a game last year, and McCurdy, who had an outstanding freshman year and should emerge as a CCIW star. Locals Carwell and Jahns are savvy veterans who bring tenacity to the Thunder's stingy defense, while transfer Garriott should step into Raymond's position. Depth could be a question. The Thunder was picked to repeat as conference champ and carries a No. 15 Division III ranking into the season.
Elmhurst, a CCIW contender in recent years, lost 55 percent of its offense to graduation in all-conference Ryan Burks, Brent Ruch and Rob Strzemp, but coach Mark Scherer returns a number of veteran guards, including starters Bainter and Boyd. A strong recruiting class will help replenish the frontcourt. If the newcomers can develop early, the Bluejays can work their way back into the CCIW first division.
North Central also has experienced guards in Barringer and Twyman, but the Cardinals' success will depend on the progress of new bigs such as transfers Brandon Stanciel and Kyle Julius (Naperville Central) and freshmen Raridon (Neuqua Valley) and Joe Meyerhoff (Benet).
Benedictine, (19-8), the Northern Athletics Conference champion, has a good veteran core returning, but the Eagles will miss graduated top scorer and NAC Player of the Year Jared Bailey. Klecan and Snelling will assume bigger roles in the offense, and Green, who made the conference all-freshman team, will run the point. A group of four returnees who've logged a lot of court time and three promising transfers provide the support that will make the Eagles a contender once again. "If we work hard and incorporate the newcomers into the system," coach Keith Bunkenburg said, "we have the formula for a repeat of last season, and we may be even better."
Legendary College of DuPage coach Don Klaas has a team perfectly suited to his system. The Chapparals are deep, tall, athletic and physical. They can shoot, play good defense and they hustle every minute. "They have the capability to develop a good basketball IQ," Klaas said. "There's great chemistry on this team." Thomas, a preseason All-America, is the best athlete, and Smith is an excellent shooter.
Important dates: Nov. 20-21 Wheaton Lee Pfund Classic; Dec. 22 Benedictine at North Central; Jan. 16 Triton at College of DuPage; Jan.21 Aurora at Benedictine; Jan. 23 Elmhurst at Wheaton; January 27 North Central at Elmhurst; Jan. 30 Wheaton at North Central; Feb. 6 Joliet at College of DuPage.