Scouting Streamwood Sabres

Streamwood Sabres

Coach Tim Jones (3rd year, 19-35)

Conference Upstate Eight

Last year 13-14, 4-6 UEC

Top returners seniors Marcus Greene (6-4, F), Joey Hanover (6-2, G/F), Derrick King (6-3, F), Marcus Lewis (6-4 G/F), junior Jerrold Ofiana (5-10, PG)

Top newcomers juniors Adam Acevedo (6-3, F), Phil Montero (5-10, G), D.J. Mustari (5-9, G), Robert Siwek (6-3, F)

Outlook The Sabres should continue their steady rise under third-year coach Tim Jones, led by Lewis, who scored 13.3 points per game as a junior. "He is one of the guys we're really leaning on to provide a lot of leadership and athletic ability to the team," Jones said. "He has a lot of talent. I'm counting on him to play hard night in and night out and play up to the best of his ability. He creates a lot of things offensively. He has a decent outside shot, he can go to the basket, he can pass the ball." Another key figure is King, who enters the season healthy after being slowed last year by a football injury. Jones said King, an athletic rebounder who can score, is "vastly improved." Ofiana runs the show now that three-year starting point guard Tem Esikiel has graduated. He is an adept ballhandler and will provide scoring. Montero is a shooter who mirrors Ofiana's ballhandling ability. Hanover missed his junior season due to ACL reconstruction and his rebounding and defensive presence will give the team a lift. Greene gives the Sabres yet another big, strong body to battle for rebounds, as does Siwek. Another big man, 6-5 Lorenzo Mitchell, will become eligible in the second semester. Acevedo and Mustari have good shooting eyes. Josh Harris, a key contributor last year, has chosen to concentrate on baseball but the up-tempo Sabres have reason for optimism regardless. "We've got some experience," Jones said. "Sometimes we're not always the smartest guys in the world. I don't want us to not use our athletic ability because we can get up and down the floor, we can pressure people and shoot the ball. But we can be our own worst enemy. Sometimes when you're a running team and you want to play up-tempo it can get a little crazy at times. I want us to play up-tempo and play with that fiery passion, but I also want us to play with smarts too. If we can understand how to play the game and play under control at times, we have all the tools we need to a pretty good ballclub. Hopefully, we're in the upper echelon (of the UEC)."