Scouting Hampshire boys basketball

Hampshire Whip-Purs

Coach: Bob Barnett (ninth year at Hampshire, 130-85 record)

Conference: Big Northern (East)

2009-10 record: 17-10 (7-3 BNE), lost to Kaneland in Class 3A regional semifinal

Top returning players: Brock Ralphs (Jr., 6-1 G), Tyler Watzlawick (Jr., 6-7 C), Shane Hernandez (So., 6-6 F), Pat Dumoulin (Sr., 6-3 F), Pat Azizi (Sr., 5-9, G), David Wilson (Jr., 5-10 G)

Top newcomers: Tyler Crater (So., 6-1, G), Justin Bmos (Jr., 6-1 G),

Season outlook: The Whip-Purs were busy adding new wrinkles this summer. "This isn't going to be like my teams everybody has seen in the past," Hampshire coach Bob Barnett said. "It's going to be a lot different. And we're going to be young." Barnett said this team's best trait is its unselfishness. He predicts these Whips will break the school record for assists "by the end of the Christmas tournament. These guys don't care who scores or how they score. I wish I'd played with them. I would have had 30 or 40 shots a game. They move the ball better than any teams I've had at Hampshire.

That's just the type of kids they are. As long as we don't turn the ball over there will be touches for everyone, so it's pick your poison." The options begin with junior Tyler Watzlawick, now in his third varsity season. He has developed a face-up, 17-foot jumpshot to go with his inside game, as has sophomore Shane Hernandez, who joined the varsity midway through his freshman year. Having two big men with a midrange scoring touch makes Hampshire a tough team to defend. Especially when combined with the outside shooting abilities of young guards Brock Ralphs, Tyler Crater, Pat Azizi and Justin Bmos off the bench. The Whip-Purs aren't likely to peak for another year considering they'll start two sophomores and two juniors alongside one senior, but they should contend in their final season in the Big Northern East. "We're going to be young and we'll have some growing pains, but it's really a great group of kids," Barnett said.