Scouting Aurora Central Catholic Chargers

Aurora Central Catholic Chargers

Coach Nathan Drye

Last year 24-4, 13-1, first in the Suburban Catholic Conference.

Postseason Lost 64-61 to Oswego in Class 3A Oswego regional championship game.

Key losses Anthony Kelley, Mike Adams, Nick Czaja.

Top returnees Joey Guth (6-2, sr., G); Steve Hollon (5-10, sr., G).

Newcomers to watch Kent Brauweiler (6-3, jr., F-C); Matt Czerak (6-0, so., G); Nick Davis (5-11, so., G); Brian Droeske (6-0, sr., G); Paul Kaminski (6-3, so., F); Joey McEachern (6-1, so., G).

Outlook Drye, 84-65 through five seasons, will cut no slack despite graduating big man Czaja, Kelley - last year's SCC player of the year - and all-conference Adams. "Our goal is pretty much the same," said the coach, coming off a two-year run of 49-9 including a program-record 25 wins in 2007-08. "We expect these kids to fill the gaps. They came to Central because they wanted to play basketball." They'll just play it a different way. Whereas the high-flying Kelley and Co. started at about 6-3, that's where this year's team ends with Kaminski and Brauweiler, the football team's tight end. Those two are sought to be bruiser types, setting screens, rebounding, playing interior defense. Otherwise, quick four-guard lineups will be prevalent, with good-upside sophomores Czerak and Davis bolstering returnees Hollon and Guth, respectively the point and shooting guards. Rather than wait for bigger teams to lay into them - such as Wheaton Academy in the new Suburban Christian Gold - the Chargers will go up-tempo, aiming to force turnovers and cut loose from the perimeter. In the half-court it'll be motion, also heavy on 3-point shots. "I think if we're knocking down shots we're going to be pretty tough," Drye said. "If we're not, who boy."