Deerfield’s Brandon Lieb is a perfect fit for the new rage in basketball circles. It’s all about finding the position-free player.
The new analytics-driven style prioritizes scoring at the rim or through the 3-point shot, with efficiency as the most valuable objective.
The 6-foot-11 Lieb, a rising senior, realizes the game is too fast, quick and changing constantly to play a fixed role as a traditional post player.
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So ever since last season ended with a March 5 loss to Stevenson in the Class 4A Waukegan Sectional semifinals, he has focused on refining his skills.
“I have been working with my coaches and a trainer in developing more of an outside shot,” Lieb said. “As the summer is winding down, I am shooting a lot more and looking to be able to consistently stick that shot.”
Diversifying his game means optimizing his strengths as a player, enabling him to put the ball on the floor and even open up his passing game to unlock the full potential of Deerfield’s attack.
“I never had a growth spurt,” he said. “I just kept growing where others stopped. I was 6-5 as a freshman. I feel more confident in the post, I have good footwork, and I am strong at finishing and rebounding.
“Now, I am trying to work on the wing because you have to have that mobility today.”
As a junior, Lieb averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots as the Warriors (21-11) captured their first regional title since the 2015-2016 season.
Lieb directly experienced the consequences of his evolving game in the way other teams defended him.
“Between my sophomore and junior year, I noticed a big difference from being a guy who was on the scouting report to now suddenly teams were sending two or three guys at me every time I got the ball in the post,” he said.
Deerfield coach Dan McKendrick also has witnessed his improvement.
“Brandon had a very good junior year for us,” McKendrick said. “But in watching him since the end of the season through the summer, the biggest thing I take away is the level of confidence he has now.
“He has worked hard in the weight room to get stronger. He has worked on his shot so that he is not just scoring 5 feet away from the basket and has shown the ability to score with either hand against contact.”
Basketball has been the connective thread in Lieb’s family. His father, Andrew, played in the late 1980s at Northern Illinois. His older brother, Jack, is about to start his junior year at Lehigh.
Brandon has scholarship offers from Western Illinois and IUPUI. He’s looking for those scholarship offers to rise, and he’s excited about the upcoming season.
“I just love playing with four other guys on the court,” Lieb said. “I know these guys. Being able to play on the court with guys you are so close with helps out with the chemistry.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.