Scouting Hoffman Estates Hawks

Hoffman Estates Hawks

Coach Bill Wandro (19th year, 316-190)

Last year 18-10, 7-3 (T1st in West)

Key losses Luke Mead (two-time all-area, 17 ppg, 4 apg, 4 rpg, 51 3s), Chris Hall (all-area, 9 ppg), Kemill Long (9 ppg, 42 3s), Tom Dombrowski (4.3 ppg),

Returning players Seniors Kevin Tiongson (5-10, G, 5.1 ppg, 22 3s), Brandon Fischer (6-2, F, 4.2 ppg), Colin Conway (6-4, C), Lance Vesper (6-7, C, 4 ppg), Joe Valadez (5-9, G), Jimmy Fabbrini (5-10, G), Brett Meihls (6-2, F), Ben Cho (5-10, G), Kyo Azumaya (6-0, G), Jon Bialek (6-3, F), Brian Fijalkowski (6-4, F), Joe Gordon (6-0, F), Thomas Iheme (6-0, F)

Newcomers Juniors Anthony Christianson (6-7, C), Matt Pahl (5-11, G), Hasim Fetahi (5-9, G), Izaac Robinson (5-11, F)

Outlook Hoffman lost a lot of scoring but figures to find a different way to finish with a fifth straight winning season. "The biggest thing we have to make up is obviously losing a big scorer in Luke," Wandro said. "Our strength this year is it won't be one guy. It will be more of a team-oriented and everybody type of thing." Especially with improved depth and the ability to do different things with the mix of experienced guards and big men. "In that regard, hopefully we'll be hard for people to defend us," Wandro said. The Hawks won't have to rely solely on Tiongson to handle the ball and Valadez is healthy in his fourth varsity season. With Conway, Vesper and Bialek inside Fischer can move into a swingman role. Christiansen also figures in the inside mix, Meihls is a good shooter and Cho, Fabbrini and Gordon also figure prominently in the mix. "We have guys who can play and now it's a matter if they can live up to the defensive tradition," Wandro said. "We've focused on eliminating some of the turnovers we've had the last couple of years. I feel confident we'll have a pretty solid team."