Scouting Hampshire boys basketball

Hampshire Whip-Purs

Coach: Bob Barnett (10th season, 149-91)

Last year: 20-6, 9-1, outright champion of the East Division of the Big Northern Conference; lost 54-43 to Marmion in semifinal of own Class 3A regional

Top players: seniors Brock Ralphs (6-0, G), Tyler Watzlawick (6-6, F), Jeremy Yoder (5-10, G); juniors Tyler Crater (6-2, G), Mike Dumoulin (6-2, F), Shane Hernandez (6-6, F), Mike Laramie (5-9, G), Brandon Waterworth (6-1, G); sophomore Ryan Cork (6-0, G)

Scouting report: Heads up, other teams in the Fox Division of the Fox Valley Conference. Here come the Whip-Purs. And they're built to compete in their first year in the league against defending champion Crystal Lake Central and talented Grayslake Central. "To be honest, I really don't know much about the Fox Valley Conference," Hampshire coach Bob Barnett said. "It'll be interesting." The Whip-Purs have the luxury of entering a new league with twin big men Tyler Watzlawick and Shane Hernandez. Watzlawick enters his fourth varsity season. Last year he averaged 12.9 ppg and 8.6 rpg. Hernandez (10.6 ppg, 6 rpg) and ball-handling guard Tyler Crater (9.8 ppg 2.3 apg) enter their respective third varsity seasons. The Whips get a huge lift from the return of guard Brock Ralphs. He was expected to be Hampshire's leading scorer last season, but he tore his anterior cruciate knee ligament in the season opener. Ralphs returned to the lineup during summer ball in June. Barnett said he was "shocked" Ralphs came back in June the way he did. In his absence, the Whips discovered a rising talent in Ryan Cork. He joined the varsity late in the year and hit a pair of 3-pointers in a postseason loss. Jeremy Yoder gained playing time last year and adds to the backcourt depth. An influx of junior athletes like Brandon Watherworth and Mike Dumoulin will strengthen an otherwise experienced varsity rotation. "We've got people who know what they're doing," Barnett said. "It's just a matter of getting their sea legs under them. We were putting in a sideline play the other day and the kids said, 'Yeah, we remember this.' So that's a step up instead of going over things 10 times." Hampshire will be tested by a tough early schedule that includes St. Francis de Sales, Huntley, Chicago Harper, South Elgin, Burlington Central, Grayslake Central and Prairie Ridge, all before Christmas. The Whips will compete in the Sycamore Thanksgiving Tournament and the DeKalb Holiday Tournament.