Youth and football are at the heart of Fenwick’s surge to begin the boys basketball season.
Behind star junior forward Bryce Hopkins, the Friars were expected to be a quality team. But with five sophomores playing key roles — many of whom entered the season without varsity experience, and some of whom joined the basketball team late after the football season concluded — it was a matter of when Fenwick would hit its stride.
Fenwick never missed a beat. The Friars (12-2) advanced to the semifinals at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament before losing a close game to Morton. The Friars beat Larkin and Uplift, then defeated Zion-Benton 78-75 in the third-place game Sunday night at Proviso West. Hopkins had 44 points, 15 rebounds and four assists against the Zee-Bees.
Sophomores Max Reese and Eian Pugh, who were difference-makers on the football team, have also asserted themselves on the hardwood.
“At Fenwick, we really do encourage multi-sport athletes,” coach Staunton Peck said. “They’re both athletes, but they’re really both winners that make winning plays. That transcends whatever sport you’re playing. They both play skill positions in football, and I think those translate really well to basketball.”
Reese, 6-foot-3 with a tight end’s frame, was unhappy with the coaches’ decision to keep him on the freshman team all of last season. Now, he says “it’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me.”
Reese said he attended every varsity game and took plenty of mental notes on what certain players could improve on and, most importantly, what the best players did well.
His first offseason goal was improving his vertical leap. His parents bought him resistance bands, which he strapped to his waist and ankles. From the day he got the bands, he jumped 150 times a day, six days a week.
“(Playing on the freshman team) really just drove me to work hard,” Reese said. “I was in the gym after every school day and on weekends, just improving every way I could. It drove me. I think everything happens for a reason, and that was a great thing for me.”
Pugh plays big minutes off the bench. He had 12 points in the first-round victory against Larkin. Peck called him a “great competitor and defender” who has solid basketball instincts.
“Running the floor and being physical, those are two advantages to playing football,” Pugh said. “I think I have a higher IQ than most players because of that. I feel I’m a good cutter and can get by the defender without the ball. I can move and get to the basket.”
Hopkins, too, continues to improve. Peck asked the Louisville recruit to be more of a leader this season, and Reese and Pugh said they’ve seen plenty of growth in their teammate.
“It’s different playing with (Hopkins) as opposed to some other guys you see who get their 30 (points) by taking all the shots,” Reese said. “Bryce gets his 30 naturally, while sharing the ball. He’s just a great person to have on your team. He’s a great player and leader.”
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Peck is comfortable letting his team learn by making mistakes. It’s how the Friars bounce back that matters most.
“If all you do is win, especially as a younger group, teams can get comfortable with their weaknesses,” Peck said. “But when you lose, that exposes the weaknesses. I think that helps really you have to work on things.
“With the talent we have, working on the things we need to, the sky is the limit.”
Rich Mayor is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press