Mundelein junior Tommy Marcotte’s scoring average has gone down from 17 points per game last year to 13 as of Saturday. However, the 6-foot-2 point guard’s stock has gone way up.
“Tommy has shown he’s not just a scorer, but he can do all the things this year,” Mundelein coach Corey Knigge said. “He’s ballhandling, rebounding and playing defense. That’s not easy.”
It’s the defense that has stood out especially for Marcotte, who admits he wasn’t always a key contributor on that end of the floor.
“Last year, I really wasn’t a good defender,” he said. “I focused on being a really good defender during the offseason, and it’s carried over. My mindset has changed a lot about how important defense is.”
During Mundelein’s 72-56 victory at Antioch on Dec 1, Marcotte made a key defensive play. The Mustangs (2-3 as of Monday) were leading 49-44 early in the fourth quarter when he stole the ball at midcourt. Marcotte drove to the basket, made the layup, was fouled and converted the free throw to complete the three-point play. Antioch never threatened thereafter.
“He gets after it defensively, and the team feeds off of it,” Knigge said.
“I don’t have to score,” Marcotte added. “I step it up wherever the team needs me.”
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Marcotte started a couple of games as a freshman and then was a full-time starter last season. This year he has taken on more of a leadership role on the team.
“His all-around game has really improved,” said junior forward Jeff Bikus, who has played with Marcotte since sixth grade. “He brings energy every night, and that’s what we look to him for.”
Marcotte showed his presence on both ends of the court against Antioch. Besides scoring a game-high 18 points, he had seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and a handful of forced turnovers. The all-junior starting five had three other scorers in double figures, including Nick Parmley with 17, James Willman with 16 (four 3-pointers) and Bikus with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Although he’s stepped up on defense, Marcotte has fouled out of two games, including against the Sequoits. But another way to look at it is his aggression on defense is causing opponents to cough up the ball.
“I’m giving a lot more effort, getting in passing lanes, leading to more steals, “Marcotte said. “Also, some of those fouls have come from charges.”
Mark Perlman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press