Scouting Maine West boys basketball

Maine West

Coach: Erik McNeill (seventh year, 57-111)

Last year: 9-18, 2-8 (fifth in CSL North)

Key losses: Alex Samuelson (all-area F, 15.4 ppg), Tommy Ross (G), Chris Schiltz (G), Chris Garcia (G, 2.9 ppg),

Top returnees: Seniors Odera Eneogwe (6-4, F, 9.7 ppg), Emmett Turner-Jackson (5-10, G, 2.9 ppg), Paul Solka (6-1, F, 2.4 ppg), Pat Livingston (6-3, F), Ben Jose (5-10, F), Andre Smith (6-1, G-F); junior Conor Hart (6-1, G-F, 9.4 ppg, 26 3s)

Newcomers: Juniors Kevin Garcia (5-10, G), Will Hepburn (5-11, G), Dylan Carson (5-9, G), Jonathan Augustine (6-1, G-F), Matt Solis (6-5, F), Cody Zimmerman (6-9, C)

Outlook: Be prepared. At least that's what McNeill believes teams will truly have to do for the Warriors, who are looking to end a string of four straight losing seasons. "I haven't felt this way in a long time, but I really feel teams are going to have to prepare for us," McNeill said. "That's nice and that's a credit to the players and what they've done in the offseason." Eneogwe and Hart are two players who pose matchup problems. Eneogwe had a 25-rebound game last year and can score outside and McNeill said Hart is the strongest guard he's coached. "He wants to be not just the best at Maine West but he wants to be one of the best in the conference," McNeill said. Turner-Jackson returns to start at the point and the all-area soccer player is a solid on-ball defender.

Solka, who is headed to Bradley for baseball, and Livingston complement each other inside. McNeill expects the Warriors to go eight deep with Garcia, who he said is the best shooter in the program, Smith and Jordan. Zimmerman has grown 9 inches since his freshman year and could be a factor later in the season. "We have to play up-tempo that's what suits us and fits our players' athletic ability," McNeill said. "We're deep enough to run it, but we have to take care of the ball, which is the hardest part." McNeill hopes the Warriors can be more competitive in the CSL North where Glenbrook North, Deerfield and Highland Park are usually in the top half. But Niles North figures to be in the hunt with New Mexico-bound Abdul Nader. "We have to figure out a way to get some wins in our conference," McNeill said. "That's been our Achilles' heel."