2012-13 Men's Basketball Team Outlook

The Skyhawk’s are coming off a strong yet disappointing season in 2011-12. The 11-12 team posted a 22-10 record with four victories over the two teams that ended the season playing for the Region IV championship, but no major championships, second place at the Highland Christmas Tour, 2nd place in the Arrowhead Conference despite two wins over conference champs Highland, and a semifinal loss in the Region IV Tournament on their home court left the Skyhawk’s wondering what could have been. Now with all five starters gone, the Skyhawk’s set out to accomplish the unfinished business of the previous season. It sounds like a difficult challenge until you look at all of the potential of this year’s Skyhawk’s. With more size and more depth than last year’s team and with the base laid by 11-12 team the Skyhawk’s feel the championships might just come one year later. At the point guard positions replacing All-Region point Stanley Moore are two talented freshmen; Jovan Henderson, and Carlos Hendrix from Rockford and transfer sophomore Jalen Riley an All-Conference player in the Skyway conference last season. At the shooting guard spot, returning sophomores Matt Groharing and Cody Behrens provide experiences and leadership at the two along with three freshmen; Wuli Frometa (B.U.I), Eric Naples (West Carroll), and Tyler Brashaw (West Carroll). At the three, Jalen Jones moves from the four spot along with freshman Jack Murphy (Richwoods), Jacob Fisher (Princeton) and Gavyn Nelson (Byron), all will compete for playing time at swing position. At the big forward spot replacing 6’7” captains Matt Ross (Chicago State) and Ryne Vrana (Illinois State academics) are red shirt freshman Scott Scholl, sophomore transfer Magd Owayed (Sacramento State), and Sterling freshman Chris Fritsch. Sophomore Daven Ottley returns at the five spot along with transfer sophomore Tavious Ford and 6’8” freshman David Newton (Rochelle). The depth at each position should be the key to the Skyhawk’s success this year as the competition in practice should prepare the Skyhawk’s for the D1 battles with Kankakee, Kennedy King, Daley, and Malcolm X, plus the Arrowhead Conference battles with the likes of Illinois Valley, Kishwaukee, the Blackhawks and Div 1 rival Highland. The Skyhawk’s will take time to jell because of their inexperience, but when they do this could be the championship season that was so close a year ago.