Naperville North senior Mitch Lewis is asked two questions all of the time.
Which sport?
What position?
Neither elicits an easy answer from the two-sport star, and understandably so.
Last season, Lewis averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Huskies (23-5). He was the DuPage Valley player of the year as Naperville North took the conference title.
But his college plans also have changed dramatically since he last dribbled a basketball competitively. The 6-foot-6 guard, with an offer in hand from Northern Colorado, had his eye on one possible future.
Then football rolled around. Lewis is up to five offers, and he expects Illinois State and Ball State to be next.
“Not 100 percent, but yes, my plans are to play college football,” he said.
That decision is just one reason this could be a special season for Lewis.
He’s played basketball with some of his North teammates since the third grade. Lewis, Cam Hardy and Winston Elston are in their third year on the varsity together.
With post Chris Johnson and guards Tyler Carlson and Chris Sullivan also returning, the Huskies are poised for a run at Peoria.
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North’s last regional title came in 2006, its last sectional title in 1998.
This is this group’s last chance to break through.
“We don’t say it, but we all know in the back of our mind,” Lewis said. “I don’t think we have anybody that will even try to play Division III (basketball). For us it’s something that we’ll never play again, so we’re cherishing every practice.”
These seniors were sixth-graders when coach Jeff Powers arrived at North.
“I’ve been waiting patiently for them to be juniors and seniors,” Powers said. “They’re a lot of alpha dogs. They want to play in big moments.”
The beauty of the Huskies is they cannot be defined by position.
Lewis is a prime example.
He has the size and strength conducive to being a post. That length makes Lewis tough to stop at the rim.
His skills, though, are more those of a guard. Lewis can shoot and dribble and is at times at his best setting up teammates.
It’s a unique combination and makes for a matchup nightmare.
“Coach Powers calls me a point guard, but with our team, we really don’t have set positions,” Lewis said. “I think I’ll play some point guard, some (power forward). It makes other teams have to strategize more.”
Lewis acknowledges he’s still regaining his basketball legs.
Other than a couple of AAU tournaments, he didn’t play any basketball this summer, focusing instead on football. He didn’t pick up a basketball this fall.
Lewis and Hardy were a week removed from football when practice started.
“First week, Mitch had an outstanding practice,” Powers said. “He came back and was a little winded. He’s just so long and gifted.”
Lewis does have one leg up on last year.
An anatomy chart worth of injuries last year forced him to miss most of football and eight of North’s first nine basketball games. Outside of a slightly sprained ankle that cost him two days of practice, he’s now healthy.
“I think about it every day,” Lewis said. “I’m so thankful. It’s been a while. I’m so excited for this team.”
Unfinished business is left on the table.
The Lewis-led Huskies won the program’s first DVC title last year since 2012, but they also lost in a tournament championship game at Thanksgiving and again at Christmas.
The emotions of an upset loss to York in a regional final still linger.
“We still have that hurt in us,” Lewis said. “That’s something that none of us want to experience again.”
Joshua Welge is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
AROUND THE AREA
Benet: Dan Sobolewski, the Naperville Sun 2015-16 Boys Basketball Player of the Year, is among three starters who graduated from the Class 4A state runners-up. Benet (31-4) reloads behind a strong group of shooters. Jack Nolan, who led Redwings with 72 3-pointers, leads the way. Liam Lyman can also light it up. Justin Enochs and Matt Teglia played in state final. Colin Crothers, a 6-foot-6 freshman, is impact addition.
Metea Valley: Matt Walpole, sophomore coach for seven seasons, takes the reins. Metea (14-16) took a hit when Malik Hall transferred to a prep school. Jeremy Hunter, a 6-3 senior who averaged 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, becomes Metea’s most experienced post. Undersized Mustangs will play fast, with junior Jayden Reed as the engine. Ethan Helwig, Payton Thorne and Corey Adams are shooters.
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Naperville Central: Redhawks (16-12) graduated most of their scoring, but two key pieces are back. Nick Kramer averaged 6.1 points last year and could see a big leap in scoring. Ben Wolf, a 6-8 junior, showed flashes as a sophomore and had a big offseason. Guards Patrick Meier and Peter Villanova can get to the rim.
Naperville North: Defending DuPage Valley Conference champion Huskies (23-5) are poised for run at Peoria. Mitch Lewis, last year’s conference player of the year, leads four returning starters. Guards Winston Elston and defensive stopper Cam Hardy, like Lewis, are third-year regulars. Chris Johnson is a force in the post, and Tyler Carlson is North’s 3-point ace.
Neuqua Valley: Wildcats (11-19) look to bounce back after first losing season since 1999-2000. Size should translate to better defense. Alex Filo (7.5 points), a 6-8 senior, blossoming 6-6 wing Nathan Scott and 6-4 wings Jonathan Tan and Will Stankus give Wildcats good height. Blaise Meredith (5.6 points), a 6-3 senior, is Neuqua’s best player — an elite defender and streaky shooter.
Waubonsie Valley: Warriors (5-22) are coming off worst season in 23 years, but school hired Jason Mead from Dixon in April for a fresh start. Sophomore guard Eric Cannon (6.9 points) is a good base. Brian Phillips is a more complete player who can shoot. It’s an undersized team, so having an athlete like 6-4 Charles Robinson around helps.