Scouting South Elgin Storm

South Elgin

Coach Chaz Taft (4th year, 40-45)

Conference Upstate Eight

Last year 19-9, 7-3 UEC

Top returners seniors Sheldon Chaney (6-1, G), Tommy Childs (5-8, G), Sam Jordt (6-4, G/C)

Top newcomers juniors Dillon Gardner (6-1, G), Matt Hattendorf (6-4, C), John Menken (6-2, G), Sam Sutter (6-0, G), sophomore Matt Downing (6-6, C), freshman Jake Maestranzi (5-6, G)

Outlook The bar for success was set last year by a Storm team that finished 19-9 overall and 7-3 in the Upstate Eight Conference. Coach Chaz Taft expects senior holdovers Jordt, Chaney and Childs to mesh with a talented junior class that went 20-6 last year and keep the program on the rise. "We want to continue on from everything we did last year," Taft said. "We never want to take steps backward instead of taking steps forward. I think we can take steps forward with this group even though we're young because we are talented. We don't have a lot of experience, but I think the talent outweighs the experience right now." Childs was South Elgin's second-leading scorer last season at 9.1 points per game. Jordt is an energetic playmaker and rebounder. Chaney can handle the ball. Downing adds another rebounding presence in the low block. Hattendorf, Sutter and Gardner are fighting for starting roles. "I'm excited about this group," Taft said. "They're talented. They're not very experienced, so my main concern is how they're going to bounce back when they hit that wall of varsity practices, walk-throughs and game preparation. We're trying to keep them fresh. We have 11 kids with no varsity experience six juniors, four sophomores and a freshman to go with three seniors. But I am excited to coach this team. They are fun to watch and they're a hard working group."