Boys basketball: Scouting Mundelein

Coach: Dick Knar, 8th season

Last year: 29-5, 9-3 (NSC Lake)

Last year’s tournament: Lost in sectional championship to Warren, 63-55.

Key players lost: C Ryan Sawvell (Evansville), G Leavon Head (Indianapolis), G Dickie Knar (Marian), F David Delgado (Coe College)

Key players returning: G Robert Knar, jr., F Sean O’Brien, jr., G Jordan Wiegold, sr., G Nate Brune, sr.

Top newcomers: G Quinn Pokora, jr., F Chino Ebube, jr., F Cliff Dunigan, jr.

Outlook: Mundelein will be young. But youth isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially when it comes in the form of players such as Robert Knar and Sean O’Brien, both juniors. Knar and O’Brien were starters on last year’s 29-win team that pushed Warren hard in the sectional championship game. Warren went on to advance all the way to the Class 4A state championship game. Knar averaged 20 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season and earned all-state special mention. According to Knar, who is also his dad, Robert has already been extended six Division I scholarship offers. Meanwhile, O’Brien is also getting Division I looks after a solid showing on the AAU circuit last summer. “Robert and Sean both had strong summers and they are both very skilled,” Knar said. “They will be very important this year because they are returning starters. Our team is very young. We have only two seniors.” Knar is looking for major contributions out of newcomers Quinn Pokora, Chino Ebube and Cliff Dunigan. “If we are going to be good, it will all be based on how they play,” Knar said of those three promising juniors. “They have good skills and they are athletic. I always have high expectations for our team but we will have to grow up fast.”

Opener: Monday vs. Grayslake Central at Mundelein Thanksgiving Shootout