According to Evanston boys basketball coach Mike Ellis, Nojel Eastern has been less than 100 percent during the preseason. The 6-foot-6 point guard and Division I recruit still is recovering from a left ankle injury suffered during the spring AAU season.
In spite of that, the Wildkits are the undisputed favorites to win the Central Suburban South for a second consecutive season.
“It’s not just Nojel,” Glenbrook South coach Ben Widner said. “They have a depth of ability that is impressive.”
Senior guard Micquel Roseman and senior forward Dylan Mulvihill played major minutes last season and once again are expected to be contributors. Junior guard Jerome Bynum, junior guard Malik Jenkins, junior forward Elyjah Williams and junior forward Chris Hamil also saw significant time on the court last season on a team that went 9-1 in the Central Suburban South.
“We probably are [the favorites] because we are defending first place and we return a lot of players,” Ellis said. “But we are not even thinking about the conference right now. We are looking at our development.”
That’s because Ellis said there isn’t much difference between teams in the league this season.
“There are a lot of teams in this league that are going to be good this year,” he said.
He referred to all six teams, including Waukegan.
After finishing in last place in league play at 1-9 last season, the Bulldogs hired Ron Ashlaw to coach them again. Ashlaw, who left following the 2012-2013 season to coach at Bloom, is the only coach in Waukegan history to earn two state trophies for the boys basketball program. Under his direction, Waukegan was second in Class 4A in 2009 and third in Class 4A in 2010.
Maine South, which went 8-2 in conference a year ago, and New Trier, which went 7-3, also have proven themselves over recent seasons. The Hawks won a Class 4A sectional title in 2010, and the Trevians did the same in 2013.
“New Trier and Maine South are well-established programs, and Glenbrook South is coming up,” Niles West coach Bob Williams said. “I look at it like a whole bunch of teams have ability. Everybody is hopeful right now, and that’s a good thing.”
But the Hawks and Trevians lost several starters.
Senior guard Jon Arenas is the lone returning starter for Maine South. Senior Brad Perry, a 6-11 center, came off the bench for the Hawks last season.
Meanwhile, New Trier has only one starter back in senior guard Michael Hurley. Senior guard Tino Malnati earned some starts toward the end of the season, including in the postseason.
“We’re young, so there’s been a lot of teaching,” said New Trier coach Scott Fricke, who hinted at starting freshman Spencer Boehm, a 6-7 wing. “We will get better as the season goes on and be a team to be reckoned with by the end. We are excited and upbeat about our potential.”
Teams like Glenbrook South and Niles West are expected to be better than they’ve been in the past. The Titans went 2-8 in league play last season, and the Wolves were 3-7. The last sectional title won by either program was captured by the Wolves in 1976, according to the IHSA website.
“Niles West has been building for this year, and this is one of the best GBS teams in a long time,” Fricke said.
The Wolves welcome back senior forward Evan Hines, who has signed with Division II program Minnesota State-Moorhead, and junior guard Octavius Parker. Both are talented playmakers with varsity experience. For the Titans, senior Jimmy Martinelli, a 6-6 athletic forward, is back, and his presence alone is enough to give the Titans hope they can win more than two games in the conference.
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“There are a lot of teams that will be competing against each other, and I put us in that group,” Glenbrook South coach Ben Widner said. “From top to bottom, it’s going to be a battle, and it’s going to be fun.”
Closer look: Central Suburban South
Evanston
Coach: Mike Ellis, entering sixth season
Projected starters with 2014-15 stats: Sr. G Micquel Roseman, Jr. G Nojel Eastern (14.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.7 spg), Jr. G Malik Jenkins, Sr. F Dylan Mulvihill, Jr. F Elyjah Williams (3.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg)
Last season: 20-9, Evanston lost in the Class 4A sectional semifinals, falling to Lake Forest 54-47
Glenbrook South
Coach: Ben Widner, entering fourth season
Projected starters with 2014-15 stats: Sr. G Daniel Jenkins, Sr. G Cody Racho, Sr. F Jimmy Martinelli (14 ppg, 5 rpg), Sr. F Jack Szafranski, Jr. F Matt Giannakopoulos
Last season: 11-17, Glenbrook South lost in the Class 4A regional semifinals, falling to Lake Forest 60-50
Maine South
Coach: Tony Lavorato, entering 13th season
Top returners with 2014-15 stats: Sr. G Jon Arenas (12.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.9 apg), Sr. G Austin Derrick, Sr. G Tom Digan, C Sr. Brad Perry, Jr. F Milos Ljiljak, Jr. F Nick Foldvary, Sr. F Joe Gardiner
Last season: 26-4, Maine South lost in the Class 4A regional finals, falling to Evanston 58-53
New Trier
Coach: Scott Fricke
Projected starters: Sr. G Michael Hurley, Sr. G Tino Malnati, Sr. F Colin Winchester, Jr. F Teddy McGregor, Fr. F Spencer Boehm
Last season: 21-10, New Trier lost in the Class 4A regional semifinals, falling to Highland Park 44-41
Niles West
Coach: Bob Williams, entering seventh season
Projected starters with 2014-15 stats: Jr. G Octavius Parker (13.1 ppg), Sr. G Myreon Flowers, Jr. G Mirsad Mackic, Sr. F Evan Hines (12.9 ppg), Sr. F Jobin Varghese
Last season: 10-15, Niles West lost in the Class 4A regional quarterfinals, falling to Maine East 63-52
Twitter: @harnesspreps