Boys basketball: Scouting Prospect

Prospect

Coach: John Camardella (fifth year, 72-38)

Last year: 17-9, 8-2 (MSL champions)

Key losses: Matt Loebbaka (all-area C, 11.2 ppg, 7 rpg, Carnegie Mellon), Terry Redding (all-area F, 8.8 ppg, 7 rpg), Grant DePalma (G, 6 ppg, 19 3s, 3 apg), Danny O'Brien (G-F, 5.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Will Botefuhr (C, 5.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, Elmhurst), Quinn Drinan (G, 2.1 ppg)

Returning players: Seniors Mike LaTulip (6-0, two-time all-area G, 19.6 ppg, 3 apg, 3.3 rpg, 60 3s), Brad Reibel (6-2, G, 4.4 ppg), Jack Landwehr (6-1, F), Sam Frasco (5-11, G), Alex Thierjung (6-0, G), Derice Black (6-3, F), Kevin Somogyi (6-4, F), Andrew Novak (6-3, F)

Newcomers: Juniors Danny Mack (6-0, F), Devin O'Hara (6-4, F), Kevin Kapka (5-11, G), Mike Houghton (6-4, F), Jake Young (6-3, F), Colin Olson (6-3, F); sophomores Bobby Frasco (6-3, G), Tommy Flahaven (6-0, G)

Outlook: The drive to become one of only three MSL teams to win five straight division titles (Schaumburg, 1999-2003; Prospect 1982-86) isn't necessarily the hottest topic for the defending league champions but it is a starting point of emphasis. "It's starting to feel like a weight," Camardella joked. "The kids are excited but we don't talk about it a lot. They understand they have big plans, but they can't think too far ahead and they have to take care of the division first." Only one starter returns but he's one of the best players around in LaTulip, who will go to Illinois as a preferred walk-on. Camardella thinks Reibel will be right with LaTulip among the MSL's top players in an up-tempo, guard-oriented attack. "This summer was such a monumental experience for Mike and Brad," Camardella said of his co-captains. "They're really leading this team and they've got seniors behind them with a lot of competitiveness. It's a really, really competitive group." That includes standouts in football in Sam Frasco and baseball in Landwehr, the all-area captain. Somogyi, Thierjung and Black are also expected to step into expanded roles and Novak, O'Hara, Houghton and Olson, who Camardella hopes will return in late December from a dislocated hip in football, will push for time up front. Flahaven and Bobby Frasco add to the deepest and smallest team Camardella has had at Prospect. "Defensively we'll look to pick it up more and push the tempo," he said. "If we sit back we'll get punished inside. And if we can't rebound we'll be in some trouble."