Scouting Leyden
WEST SUBURBAN GOLDLeydenCoach: Bill Heisler 11th year,116-160
Last year: 7-21 (1-11 WSC)
Top returning players: Jake Fiala (6-2, Sr, F), Elkin Mejia (6-0, Sr, G), Ocean Johnson (6-1, Jr, G), Kylar Britten (6-0, Jr, PG)
Key varsity additions: DaQuan Harris (6-0, Jr, G)
Outlook: The Eagles will hope that they can find some wins in the Ocean. Junior guard Ocean Johnson will be a key factor as Leyden hopes to turn around a two-year losing streak. Ocean, who is the cousin of former Chicago Bulls guard Corey Benjamin, got called up late last year and contributed over 13 points per game. Also in the backcourt will be point guard Kylar Britten. That combo should give the Eagles some great scoring punch. Jake Fiala, who saw some time last season, will move from guard to forward while Elkin Mejia and DaQuan Harris should see lots of action. "We will be improved this year," Leyden coach Bill Heisler said. "We have returning guard play, some new additions that will give us more scoring and depth." The Eagles will find how far they have come when they open the season next week at the Ridgewood tournament. Things won't get much easier for them at Christmas when they play at the Glenbard West tournament.