Despite 2 transfers, Aurora Christian optimistic
It looked like the world would be Aurora Christian's oyster in the 2011-2012 boys basketball season.
Despite some big changes, it might still be.
The Eagles were 11-16 entering the playoffs last season then stormed to the Class 2A Joliet Central supersectional, a playoff drive unseen at Aurora Christian since retired coach Don Davidson's heyday. The best thing about it was all five starters were returning.
Things change. All-Area point guard Dean Danos, who averaged 19.8 points and made 67 three-pointers, has reportedly transferred to Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Ind. Forward Nick Marema, Aurora Christian's second-leading scorer and rebounder, transferred to Oswego East.
By spreading Danos' points around, continuing the big postseason enjoyed by center C.J. Schutt and the natural progression of junior Jonathan Harrell to go with three other returning starters, Eagles coach Steve Hanson is certainly not distraught.
"We still should be really good," said the Eagles' third-year coach, whose team improved to 15 wins from 9 in his first two seasons.
"We're really comfortable with the athletes we have and I think we have a lot of them so we're going to try to go up and down, play baseline to baseline and try to make it a 32-minute game with our depth and athleticism. We have some length now, some size and muscle. We have all the pieces for what it takes to be successful," Hanson said.
Schutt, who manned the paint while averaging of 10.2 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds, is back. So too, whenever the Eagles' football season concludes, are starters Ryan Suttle and Ryan McQuade, who hit 53 threes. Jake Hanson, the coach's son and first off the bench last season, also returns.
Experienced reserves are plentiful: Haydn McNelis, Cory Windle, Jake Gehman, Grayson Roberts, 6-foot-7 Paxton Singer. Football quarterback Anthony Maddie, who played guard at Joliet Catholic before transferring to Aurora Christian, has told Steve Hanson he wants to play.
A challenge will be shifting to the Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division from the SCC Gold, where Aurora Christian placed third at 6-4.
Hanson was pleased to see a little swagger when practices started.
"I think the fact that we struggled and still got to (the supersectional) just shows them that if they continue to work hard and work together we can achieve some pretty neat things," he said.