Boys basketball season preview: Scouting Lake County
Antioch Sequoits
Coach: Sean Connor (5th season)
Last season’s record: 17-14, 11-3 (second, Northern Lake County)
Top returning players: Mark Render, 6-1, sr., G, Cooper Marabella, 6-4, sr., W, Chance Parsons, 6-3, sr., Logan Lennon, 6-2, soph., G
Key newcomers: Miles Marabella, 6-4, fresh., G, Jake Yeager, 6-0, jr., G, Liam Hill, 6-1, soph.
Worth noting: Render, the team’s lone returning starter and a captain, averaged 10 points a game last year and scored more than 20 points 3 times. Cooper Marabella, Antioch’s sixth man last year and a starter and captain this season, shot 52% from 3, while Lennon led the Sequoits with a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. “We will rise and fall with our seniors,” Connor said. “On offense, this is the most versatile we have been in the past 5 years and on defense this is the most speed we’ve had in the past 5 years.” Connor noted Miles Marabella is one of the top-ranked freshmen in the state. Looking at the conference, Connor said a senior-heavy Wauconda should be the favorite with Lakes and Grant right there as well with North Chicago and Round Lake, with a pair of transfers, as teams also to keep an eye on.
Carmel Catholic Corsairs
Coach: Mike Wasielewski (2nd season, 21st overall)
Last season’s record: 12-20, 1-8 East Suburban Catholic
Top returning players: Ethan Matz, 6-3, sr., G
Key newcomers: JJ Doyle, 5-9, jr., G
Worth noting: Matz averaged 13 points as a junior and earned all-ESCC and Daily Herald All-Area honors. He’s a 3-year varsity starter and is approaching 1,000 career points. “The team has great unity and culture,” Wasielewski said. “They are all great friends and this will be our strength.” Wasielewski noted on offense the Corsairs will share the ball and look for the open shot, and on defense will be undersized, but hustle and playing together will make up for that. Wasielewski also likes Doyle’s prospects. “JJ Is an elite hustle player,” he said. Wasielewski noted this is the final year of the East Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC teams will join the Chicago Catholic League on the boys side next school year) where Benet and Marist, a pair of Class 4A powerhouse programs both looking for state titles, will be the favorites.
Grant Community Bulldogs
Coach: Wayne Bosworth (17th season)
Last season’s record: 16-12, 9-5 (third Northern Lake County)
Top returning players: Charles Schlicht, 6-1, G, Damarrion Smith, 5-9 G
Key newcomers: DJ Stitts, 6-1, G, Josh Gamboa, 6-1 G
Worth noting: Smith (13 points) and Schlicht (12 points) are returning all-NLCC picks with Smith also earning All-Area accolades. “Charles and Damarrion are our returning all-conference, all-area players, but we have quite a few others who will be immediate impact players,” Bosworth said. “This is a fast, athletic group that will be able to put points on the board. Last year, we were the highest-scoring team in the conference and this year we have a lot more scoring depth.” On defense, Bosworth said the Bulldogs are a fast, athletic group that can cover ground quickly. “In addition, this is a group that has a little more length than what we are used to having, which gives us a lot more flexibility on defense.” Bosworth said the NLCC “is probably the best it has been from top to bottom as far as I can remember,” he said. “There won’t be anyone in the conference this year who can’t beat any other opponent. Wauconda returns the most and had a lot of success toward the end of last season and due to that, they are most likely the favorite on paper. There are many other teams that will be in the mix.”
Grayslake Central Rams
Coach: Brian Centella (7th season)
Last season’s record: 21-10, 12-2 (Northern Lake County champions)
Top returning players: Alex Granville, 6-0, sr., G, Cole Halverson, 6-3, sr., G-F, Carson Woods, 5-10, sr., G, Aidan Bechard, 6-2, sr., G
Key newcomers: Owen Perz, 6-4, jr., G-F, Andy Monzanga, 6-6, jr., C, Verton Freeman, 6-1, fresh., G
Worth noting: Granville is a returning all-conference player and great on-ball defender, Centella noted, while Halverson (All-Area honorable mention last season) is also a returning starter who will have an expanded presence. Woods was Central’ first guard off the bench and “will flourish in an expanded role,” Centella said. Bechard, Centella, added, is a versatile player who will be key for the Rams. Centella said to keep an eye on freshman guard Freeman as well. “We have a balanced group committed to the defensive side,” Centella said. On offense, the coach pointed to an unselfish unit with a variety of players who can make plays, while quickness from guards will be a strength on defense. “We have versatile defenders on the wing,” Centella said. Centella agrees with the notion of a competitive NLCC slate this season. “There are probably 4-5 different teams that have a chance to win it,” he said. “We could be in the mix.”
Grayslake North Knights
Coach: Josh Feinzimer (5th season)
Last season’s record: 17-15, 8-6 (fourth Northern Lake County)
Top returning players: Uros Mitrovic, 6-5, sr., W, Maurice Jorden, 6-2, sr., W, Jared Van Donselaar, 6-7, soph., W, Will Foley, 5-11, soph., PG
Key newcomers: Aidan Chekingo, 6-0, jr., G, Eddie Johnson, 6-7, soph., F, Angelo O’Connor, 5-11, soph., G
Worth noting: Mitrovic, who has started every game since his freshman year and is a 3-year captain, is a returning all-NLCC and All-Area pick who is 6 points shy of 1,000 for his career and 8 threes away from establishing a new North career benchmark. He’s also second all-time in program history in rebounds. “Uros will anchor our young and inexperienced squad,” Feinzimer said. “He is a double-double threat every night. He’s been filling up the box score for years and is a familiar name on every scouting report.” Jorden, Feinzimer said is a talented senior who can play every position, while Van Donselaar is primed for a bigger role in his second year on varsity. Foley saw late-season starts at the point last year as a freshman and Feinzimer noted is ready for the full-time job. “While inexperienced at the varsity level, the players around Uros are athletic and have great, natural scoring ability,” he said. “People will expect Uros and Jared to score, but we truly believe we are 7 or 8 deep with guys who can put the ball in the basket.” Feinzimer said North has its biggest team in 20 years. “At times, we will have 6-5, 6-7, 6-7 on the court together,” he said. The coach also is excited about North’s defensive prospects. “Last year’s team was statistically the best in North history,” he said. “We want to continue to shoot for the standard that team set.” Feinzimer thinks Van Donselaar will become a county household name by season’s end. On the conference beat, Feinzimer feels the NLCC will be interesting theater this season. “We believe we could beat anyone in our conference on any given night,” he said. “The problem in the conference is that every team feels the same way. The conference is probably more equal top to bottom than it has ever been.”
Lakes Eagles
Coach: Chris Snyder (16th season)
Last season’s record: 8-20, 4-8 Northern Lake County
Top returning players: Ben Newcomb, 6-3, jr., G, Dorian Pullen, 5-10, PG, Aidan Hopkins, 6-1, sr., G
Key newcomers: Dylan McCann, 6-3, F, Carter Martin, 5-10, G, Lawson Caruth, 6-1, F, Jaylen Pinkard, 6-3, F
Worth noting: Newcomb averaged 12 points as a full-time starter last year and earned all-NLCC honors. “Ben is a very skilled player who competes,” Snyder said. “Ben is poised to really break out this year.” Synder calls Pullen a high-level point guard “who has gotten stronger and does a great job of getting us into our offense,” he said. “He’s a solid scorer. Dorian will be our engine. He gets us going on offense and can create both for himself and others.” Hopkins became a starter midway through last season “and never looked back,” the coach said. “Aidan is a great energy guy who is a top-level defender and a solid outside shooter. He will be a major senior contributor on a team dominated by juniors. He will be the guy who guards the best guy on the other team.” Snyder has liked what he has seen thus far. “We have an athletic team,” he said. “We have guys who have put in a lot of time this offseason and are hungry to improve. We feel we can be a good shooting team and have some strong guards who can help create open looks. We aren’t necessarily the tallest team, but we do have good length we can use.” In fact, Snyder noted this should be one of the better shooting teams the Eagles have had. “The guys put in a lot of shots in the offseason,” he said. “We also have some guys who can make solid plays and we will look to play with some pace in the full and half court.” Athleticism on defense will also be a big help. “They like to compete on defense, which will be a plus,” Snyder said. Wauconda, Grant and Grayslake Central are teams in the NLCC to watch, Snyder said. “We hope to be in the mix in what figures to be another competitive NLCC season,” he said.
Lake Zurich Bears
Coach: Terry Coughlin (8th season)
Last season’s record: 13-18, 5-9 (sixth, North Suburban)
Top returning players: Kain Kretschmar, 6-3, G, Adrian Riep, 6-4, F, Evan Peterson, 5-10, PG, Tyler Reed, 6-2, G, Zach Bonelli-Schultz, Reid Pfeifer
Key newcomers: Caleb Strauss, 6-5, jr., F, Tyler Shively, 6-2, jr., G, Javian Bianco, 5-10, fresh., PG
Worth noting: Kretschmar averaged 13 points last year on his way to all-NSC and All-Area honorable-mention honors. Riep averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds and also was an All-Area honorable-mention selection. Peterson averaged 7 points and 4 assists, while Reed averaged 5 points. “Defensively, we should be very good because we are long and athletic,” Coughlin said. “Our athleticism should help us score in transition.” Coughlin likes Lake Zurich’s ability to get to the foul line and attack off the dribble, as well as in transition. “We have 5 guys on the floor at all times who are capable of scoring,” he said. Defensively, the Bears will be physical and athletic, Coughlin pointed out. “With our depth, we should be able to pressure the ball in the full court a little more,” he said. On the North Suburban front, Coughlin said Warren and Waukegan bring back a lot of experience, while Libertyville and Stevenson also should be very good. “The conference as a whole does not have a team that is not capable of beating another team on any given night,” he said.
Libertyville Wildcats
Coach: Brian Zyrkowski (9th season)
Last season’s record: 16-14, 5-9 (fifth North Suburban)
Top returning players: Bryce Wegrzyn, 6-9, sr., F, Terrence Davis, 6-3, soph., G, Trevor Wallace
Key newcomers: Nick Baker, 5-11, soph., G
Worth noting: Wegrzyn is one of the most prolific scorers in the county (19.2 points, 9.3 rebounds last year) and is a returning all-NSC and All-Area pick. Davis averaged 8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2 steals as a freshman (All-Area honorable mention). Zyrkowski has 3 starters back in Wegrzyn, Davis and Wallace. “The team shares the ball very well and does a great job of pushing the tempo,” he said. “We have a good mix of guys who can hit outside shots, get to the rim and play with their backs to the basket. We are quick and scrappy, but very sound defensively.” Zyrkowski said Waukegan and Warren are top contenders in the NSC with the Wildcats and Stevenson also in that top four tier.
Round Lake Panthers
Coach: Jack Hansa (3rd season)
Last season’s record: 1-29, 0-14 Northern Lake County
Top returning players: Jaquan Jamrson, 5-10, G
Key newcomers: DJ Billups, 6-4, jr., F, Devin Powell, 5-10, jr., G, Jonny Artega, 5-10, jr., G
Worth noting: Jamrson averaged a team-high 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals on his way to an all-NLCC season a year ago. “Jaquan is one of the best defending guards in conference and has taken steps forward with this shooting, which is going to make him a force to be handled,” Hansa said. Hansa said to keep an eye on juniors Billups, Powell and Artega. “Devin is a crafty guard who can take over a game with and without scoring the ball,” he said. “Darius is a big man who is difficult to matchup with and is force when the ball is in his hands.” Hansa said the Panthers are young, play quick, work hard and “love putting in the work to get better every day,” he said. “We have a few guys who should average double figures. We should be good scoring inside and outside the paint. On defense, we have a really athletic group that will look to create turnovers every possession.” Round Lake hasn’t won a conference game in 3 years. “The conference looks young and competitive with a lot of teams with the potential to take the title,” Hansa said. “Our goal is to start with getting our first conference win in 3 years and build on from there.”
Stevenson Patriots
Coach: Will Benson (3rd season, 16th overall)
Last season’s record: 22-11, 11-3 (North Suburban co-champions), Class 4A regional champions
Top returning players: Rocco Pagliocca, 6-2, G, Donny Williams, 6-0, G
Key newcomers: Aidan Albrecht, 6-3, sr., G, Quinton Frakes, 6-5, jr., G, Cohen Ottaviano, 6-2, jr., G-F, Max Dabbs, 6-7, soph., F, Karthik Krishnarajah, 5-10, sr., G, Bilguun Ankhbayar, 6-0, soph., PG
Worth noting: Stevenson, which shared the North Suburban title with Waukegan last year and won a Class 4A regional title, returns Pagliocca (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) and Williams (10 points, team-leader in 3-point shooting percentage) — the only two Patriot returnees with significant minutes logged a year ago. Pagliocca is a 2-time all-NSC player, while Williams was all-NSC honorable mention last season. “Rocco and Donny are proven guys,” Benson said. “I don’t know how quickly we can catch the new guys up to speed, hopefully pretty quickly. Hopefully, team chemistry and the willingness to consistently compete with toughness and intensity will be strengths.” Albrecht was Stevenson’s eighth guy last year, but the Patriots played seven the majority of the time. “Aidan is an outstanding kid and a really good athlete and has a chance to take a big jump this year,” Benson said. “He can really jump and finish around the rim.” Benson said it seems like it will be Waukegan and Warren and everyone else in the North Suburban this season. “It’s really tough to say, especially with new head coaches at Mundelein and Lake Forest,” he said.
Vernon Hills Cougars
Coach: Matt McCarty (23rd season)
Last season’s record: 17-15, 6-4 (third, Central Suburban North)
Top returning players: Jeremy Zamost, 5-11, sr., PG, Brady Larsen, 6-3, sr., F, Daniel Odhiambo, 6-5, sr., C, Nolan Brettner, 6-3, sr., F, Hudson Self, 6-0, sr., G
Key newcomers: Gram Lis, 6-1, sr., G, Nico Robles, 6-0, sr., G
Worth noting: Three starters return from last year’s Cougars squad, including All-Area honorable-mention pick Odhiambo (9 points, 9 rebounds, set school record for blocks in a game with 8), Larsen (7 points, 3 rebounds) and Zamost (6.5 points, 3.2 assists). Brettner started a handful of games and played extensive minutes, while Self provides energy off the bench and logged a lot of minutes down the stretch run of last season. Lis and Robles are 3-point shooters. “Jeremy, Brady and Daniel have all played extensive varsity minutes since their sophomore year,” McCarty said. “Other starters are seniors, and top bench players are also seniors, so they have been through the battles. Our experience is a major strength of our team. Gram and Nico can get hot from the arc, so we will need them to help us space our offense.” McCarty noted the Cougars have worked on their 3-point shooting during the offseason. “We went through some major scoring droughts at times during the course of the season,” he explained. “We shot 27% from the arc last season and only 64% from the free-throw line. We must improve in these areas.” The coach added, defensively, Odhiambo protects the rim “better than anyone I have ever coached at VHHS,” McCarty said. “He has the timing and athletic ability to change a game in the paint.” McCarty said perennial North Division kingpin Niles North again is expected to be formidable. “Teams in the CSL North will have to play very well and be able to handle their pressure to give them a run for the conference championship,” McCarty said. “We did give them a very good game on our home floor last season, but we came up a little short. Overall, the CSL will be loaded with New Trier, Evanston and Deerfield all having a lot of returning high-level talent.”
Wauconda Bulldogs
Coach: Ty Weidner (4th season, 19th season in program)
Last season’s record: 11-22, 7-7 (fifth Northern Lake County)
Top returning players: Tony Salemi, 6-2, sr., SG-SF, Alex Ortega, 5-11, sr., PG, Austin Carlsen, 6-6, jr., PF, Leo Brianis, 5-11, jr., SG, Cole Pluckinski, 6-0, sr., F
Key newcomers: Cooper Karaszewski, 6-0, jr., F
Worth noting: Wauconda returns its entire roster sans one player. Salemi (13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists) was an all-NLCC pick, while Ortega (10.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists), Carlsen (6.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 blocks), Brianis (8.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals) and Plucinski (4.3 points) all contributed. Weidner said Karaszewski is super athletic and versatile on both ends of the floor. “With everyone returning, we had a great summer and have hit the court running through the first week of the season,” Weidner said. “Every player put in the work on their own and we are in the best shape I have seen in some years now. We have so much talent on the offensive side of the ball, it wouldn’t surprise me to have 5 different players lead the team in scoring at some point. Our scoring is at all levels, penetration and finishing around the rim, in the post, mid-range off the dribble and the ability to stretch the floor with the 3-pointer.” Weidner said the Bulldogs’ transition offense “is something special when all 5 players are willing to run their lanes and make the extra pass,” he said. “We are looking to hit the lead man and play off it. It looks like it could be something special and lead us to many victories.” Weidner added if Wauconda can rebound consistently, “we will be just fine,” he said. “We do a great job pressuring the basketball and playing the passing lanes, but that’s what we have to do being an undersized team. If we don’t rebound and give up third and fourth changes to our opponent, we will struggle. We have to finish on defense and look to run.” Weidner said Salemi can do it all on the basketball court, “and the best part is the kid is one of the hardest-working players I have coached,” he said. “He wants to be special and wants to be great.” The coach added if Ortega wasn’t an undersized point guard he would be considered a Division I point guard with his instincts, quickness and work ethic. Carlsen, Weidner added, is one of the most difficult mismatches in the conference. “He can finish inside with his size and footwork and can finish from the outside with an improved, more consistent 3-point shot. I think Austin takes a big step forward this year,” he said.
Warren Township Blue Devils
Coach: Zack Ryan (4th season)
Last season’s record: 27-11, 9-5 (fourth North Suburban), Class 4A state runner-up
Top returning players: Jaxson Davis, jr., Braylon Walker, sr., Avonn King, sr.
Key newcomers: Javin Griffin, 6-0, sr., G, Joel Paasch, 6-4, sr., G, Cashius Collins, 6-5, jr., W, Tayte Cordova, 6-1, jr., G, LeBron Massey, 6-0, sr., G
Worth noting: The Class 4A state runners-up are loaded with talent once again, headlined by the returning Davis the 2-time reigning Captain of the Daily Herald Lake County All-Area team and the 2024-2025 Mr. Basketball award winner in Illinois (first 10th-grader to win the honor). He averaged 19.4 points, 6 assists and 4.4 rebounds, while Walker is back after averaging 6.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists on his way to all-NSC honorable-mention honors. King averaged 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds. Ryan said perimeter play on both sides of the floor will be a strength, as will the ability to score the basketball in a variety of ways. Talking about the North Suburban, “the conference is very deep and talented once again this year,” Ryan said.
Did not respond to requests for information: Mundelein