Boys basketball: Scouting Rolling Meadows
By Marty Maciaszek
mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com
Rolling Meadows
Coach: Kevin Katovich (10th year, 111-136)
Last year: 14-13, 7-3 (T2nd East)
Key losses: Paul Volkman (all-area C, 15 ppg, 9 rpg, Wisconsin-Oshkosh), Scott Shewmon (C, 5.6 ppg), Mike Crigler (G), James Nolan (G)
Returning players: Seniors Brian Nelms (5-10, all-area G, 13 ppg, 6 apg, 4 rpg), Tyler Gaedele (6-2, F, 11.6 ppg, 75 3s), Eric Lowe (5-10, G, 3.7 ppg), Mike Olson (5-10, G, 3.7 ppg), Michael Rose (6-3, F, 2.2 ppg), Mike Weingart (5-7, G), John Ott (5-9, G), Charlie Lynk (5-9, G), Chase Larson (5-10, G); junior Jack Milas (F, 2 ppg).
Newcomers: Senior Willie Rosenthal (6-9, C); juniors Austin Reed (5-8, G), Tim Smith (5-8, G), Andy Pletch (6-4, F), Mike Dolan (6-2, F), Matt Dennis (6-2, F), Adam Pavlakis (6-3, C), Brian Sabal (6-3, C).
Outlook: It’s easy to call it guarded optimism with experience and depth in the backcourt with Nelms leading the way in his fourth varsity season. “It’s so funny because he’s been around almost too long and he knows what to rip me about,” Katovich joked. “He’s like having another coach in terms of leadership. He’s phenomenal. He’s a great kid and a great leader.” Lowe, who is headed to Villanova for baseball, and Gaedele are also back for their third varsity seasons and Milas, Olson and Lynk saw significant minutes at guard. “I feel pretty good about our depth at guard,” Katovich said. “At times we’ll have to go small but with our guards we’ll be OK.” The key for the Mustangs will be inside where Rose has improved and will have to rebound along with Sabal. Rosenthal is a transfer project who could be a factor with his size. “He’s never been coached but he’s starting to get it and he’s starting to come along,” Katovich said. “If we get anything out of him that will obviously help. Our concern is how physical we’re going to be. That’s going to be huge for us because there will be games where we’re not shooting well.” Dolan, Ott, Weingart and Dennis also factor into what could be one of the deepest teams for Meadows under Katovich.