St. Charles North eager to get started

This is the week that St. Charles North boys basketball coach Tom Poulin has long anticipated since his team bowed out of the 2009-10 regional tournament after a 40-36 loss to host Bartlett last March.

And while the gym was a little more crowded than usual for Monday afternoon's first official basketball practice of 2010-11, Poulin didn't seem to mind one bit.

"It's a good problem to have," Poulin said of the 27 players who attended the first of three varsity tryout sessions.

"I know it's packed on one court with almost 30 kids," said the coach, "but we're able to get good evaluations on each kid."

Considering that Poulin wants to keep between 12 and 15 varsity players, it means that there will likely be some unhappy campers when final cuts are made Thursday morning.

It also means that the North Stars' basketball program is on the rise and that's saying something when you factor in that Poulin has enjoyed four consecutive winning seasons (71-47 overall mark), highlighted by the 2008-09 regional championship team's 22-9 record, since taking over as head coach in 2006.

"We've had a handful of guys say, 'I just want to be a part of the program,'" said Poulin. "That speaks highly of what Rob (assistant coach Prentiss) and I have been able to do, and Coach (Chris) Young in the past when we got this thing started four years ago."

With the return of unanimous all-conference selection Josh Mikes, steady third-year varsity guard Chris Conrad, hard-working senior forward Sean Donlevy, and 6-foot-7 junior center Kyle Nelson, there already was plenty of reason for optimism this season.

Then when you add a transfer like 6-4 sophomore combo guard Quinten Payne to an already talented mix, it makes Poulin more than ready to get the ball rolling.

"Every year you get excited for it," said Poulin. "But this season has got a little bit different feel to it. It's hard to put into words."

As long as Poulin doesn't mind, I'll help St. Charles North has a chance to be a very, very good basketball team by season's end.

"We've got size, we've got athleticism," said the coach. "We've got all the pieces to the puzzle now we have to make them fit together. It could be a really nice picture."

A picture that veterans like Mikes can clearly see.

"The team we took to the sectional finals (two years ago) I see a lot of the same talent and athletic ability as the guys we have on this year's team," said Mikes, who averaged 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds on last year's team that finished 16-12.

"We can go as far as we want to go," added Mikes.

Poulin knows he is fortunate to have returning players like Mikes, Conrad and Nelson.

"Josh knows what it takes," Poulin said of the third-year varsity starter. "He was schooled under Jon (DeMoss) and Nick (Neari) and (Jake) Juriga and (Zach) Hirsch, and all those kids he and Chris."

Mikes, who has always possessed the type of muscular body that most high schoolers can only wish they had, has progressed in all areas since his sophomore campaign in 2008-09.

"He's a man now," said Poulin. "I'm also proud of Josh as a person."

It wouldn't seem right if there wasn't a Conrad around at St. Charles North. Chris is the fifth member of his family (Bethany, Anna, Kevin, David) to play basketball for the North Stars.

"Chris is perfect for us," said Poulin. "He's an unselfish, pass-first player who can knock down open jumpers, and he's a good leader with a huge heart."

Nelson, who gained invaluable varsity frontcourt experience as a sophomore, appears ready to have a breakout season.

"Kyle has probably had the most impressive off-season I've ever seen," said Poulin. "Not that I'm some veteran 20-year coach but he's come a long way. He's going to shock a lot of people and turn a lot of heads."

Payne, who averaged 12.3 points and 4.0 rebounds for Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.) last year as a freshman, may be the area's most anticipated player to watch.

"It's like he's been here all along," said Poulin. "He's going to make us better and he's going to make his teammates better."

That's scary news for the North Stars' Upstate Eight Conference River Division counterparts.

"I can't wait for that first game (Nov. 22 against Hales Franciscan at the St. Charles East/Ron Johnson Tournament)," said Payne, whose older brother Cully starred at Burlington Central and Schaumburg and now plays at Iowa.

Payne, who lived in St. Charles from 2001-05, has already fit right in with his new teammates.

"We're like a family," said Payne. "I grew up with Kyle (Nelson) and Tony (Neari). Those are my two best friends from kindergarten so knowing those two guys coming in have made it real easy for me."

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