Scouting Schaumburg Saxons
Schaumburg Saxons
Coach Matt Walsh (first year)
Last year 20-7, 7-3 (T1st MSL West)
Key losses Cully Payne (all-area captain, 22 ppg, 5.5 apg, 42 3s, Iowa), Justin Swiercz (all-area, 10.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 35 3s), Josh Spandiary (8 ppg), Perrish Bell (7.9 ppg, Harper), Blake Mueller (9.7 ppg), Chris Kelly (4.5 ppg)
Returning players Seniors Declan Geraghty (6-0, G-F, 5.3 ppg), Richard Barnes (6-3, C), Glenn Frost (6-5, F), Chris Baker (6-5, C), Joe Infusino (5-8, G, 4.1 ppg, 18 3s), Zac Minelli (5-10, G), Connor McHugh (5-11, G), Jericho Yousefi (5-11, G)
Newcomers Senior Josh Walker (5-10, G, transfer); juniors Javon McDonald (5-9, G), Johnny Kirk (5-11, G), Jacoby Mason (6-1, F), Mark Bielanski (5-8, G), Eric Carlson (5-9, G), Eliott Rieves (5-10, G), Sean Duminie (6-2, F), Roger Lane (6-1, F), Kurt Kempama (6-4, F-C); sophomore Christian Spandiary (6-2, F)
Outlook Walsh comes over from Conant where he was an all-area player and successful sophomore coach to take over one of the state's most successful programs after Bob Williams resigned in the spring and moved on to Niles West. "We've formed some great team chemistry and that's going to be a really important part to our success the entire year," Walsh said. "I definitely see us as a team that's going to improve throughout the season." Geraghty is the most experienced returnee and has provided solid leadership. "He can play just about any position," Walsh said. "He's so smart and tough." Infusino can shoot and handle the ball, Frost is a skilled, athletic player and Barnes and Baker are expected to provide solid interior defense. Walker, who was at Schaumburg as a freshman and sophomore, is back and will help at point guard. Kirk was the leading sophomore scorer and is an excellent shooter and Bielanski will also help with the ballhandling. McDonald is a transfer who started his first two varsity seasons at Elgin Academy. "I think we have a lot of depth and can play a lot of guys," Walsh said. "We're going to continue to hang our hats on playing defense and getting stops - and offensively we'll continue to share the ball."