Scouting Wheeling boys basketball

Posted November 19, 2010 12:00 am

By Marty Maciaszek

Wheeling

Coach: John Clancy (first year)

Last year: 4-23, 0-10 (sixth in East)

Key losses: James Miles (G), Kevin Kortum (G), James Barrerra (F), Ryan McClellan (G)

Returnees: Seniors Riley Harvey (6-4, F, 7.4 ppg), Ricky Schwind (6-5, G, 6.2 ppg, 38 3s), Billy Jamie (6-2, F-C), Tyler Shapiro (5-11, G, 8 ppg, 23 3s), Matt Hart (6-4, C), Nick Boyd (6-0, G), Brandyn Gray (5-6, G); junior Charlie Kirk (6-4, G-F)

Newcomers: Senior Max Wagner (6-5, C); juniors Brandon Yacu (6-1, F-G), Kevin Leska (6-6, C-F), Bradley Gray (5-7, G), Andrew Jensen (5-10, G), Junior Mejia (5-9, G), Lamont McPherson (6-2, G), Daniel Hlvacek (5-9, G); freshman Jeremy Stephani (5-10, G)

Outlook: The motto in the first season for Clancy, an all-area guard at BG in 2003, is the three P’s play with passion, purpose and poise. “I’m really excited and I think maybe we can turn things around quicker than I anticipated,” said Clancy, who took over after Lou Wool stepped down in March. “We’ve talked about this team being the team to turn the corner.” The Wildcats have a solid group of returnees who have improved their skills and strength after the school’s first winless division finish in 20 years. Shapiro, Schwind and Kirk can shoot the 3 in Clancy’s dribble-drive motion offense and Jamie and Hart are also threats. “It kind of fits our personnel,” Clancy said of the dribble-drive. “I really believe we have an outstanding 3-point shooting team.” Harvey is in better shape for his third varsity season and will be counted on for inside scoring and rebounding. Boyd could also start and play the point with Shapiro and Stephani’s shooting ability will be a plus. Yacu, Brandyn Gray and Leska add to the Wildcats’ depth and Clancy hopes their overall length will make their 1-2-2 ball press into a matchup zone a challenge for opponents. “We have a quiet swagger about us and our goal at every level is to win the East,” Clancy said. “We’ve set some lofty goals but I see a look in our kids’ eyes, even though they took some lumps last year.”

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