Scouting Christian Liberty boys basketball

Christian Liberty

Coach: Ken Kramer (second year, 14-10)

Last year: 14-10, 4-5 NAC

Key losses: Nathan Elleson (G, 6.4 ppg), Aaron Johnson (F, 9 ppg); junior Gabriel Clayborne (8.8 ppg, 19 3s, transferred)

Returnees: Juniors Mike Hennek (6-2, G, 8 ppg, 22 3s), Luke Comerouski (5-11, G, 15.1 ppg, 27 3s), Michael Kathan (6-2, F), Matt Litzenberger (5-11, G), Ben Thomas (6-3, F); sophomore David Colbert (6-1, G)

Newcomers: Seniors Nevin Mathai (6-1, F), Daniel Jalandoon (5-5, G); juniors Keegan Nichols (6-1, G), Michael Milkowski (5-10, G), Noah Johnson (5-9, G), Kiefer Bennett (5-8, G), David Cabrera (5-11, F); sophomores Dan Glad (5-10, F), JD Dulinsky (5-5, G), Marcus Silva (5-10, G)

Outlook: The commitment level has grown after a successful first season of IHSA competition. Christian Liberty played in the Westminster Christian league and in a couple of tournaments over the summer. Next week it takes on some of the big boys in its first trip to the Buffalo Grove tournament where it also faces Stevenson and Elgin. "That will be a nice wake-up call for the guys to see how we should play, that this is high school basketball," Kramer said. "They're thinking about basketball year round now instead of just during basketball season." A better understanding of what Kramer wants offensively should open up more chances for Comerouski. Litzenberger played a little last year and Kramer said "he's looking great" at the point after Clayborne transferred. Hennek is also a long-range threat, Thomas has improved in just his second year of basketball and Kramer said Kathan has close to a coaching-level understanding of the offense. "If we play as a team it will be hard to focus on Luke," Kramer said. "The way we're working together as a team, everybody gets opportunities to score and get chances." Mathai didn't play last year but was on the JV his first two years, Jalandoon is athletic and Milkowski should help in the rotation.