Brock Marino is a goal setter.
Lakes’ 6-foot-6 junior forward knows exactly what he wants to accomplish.
“In practice, all the records are up there for us to see,” he said, referring to the honor wall in Lakes’ gym. “I want to see my name up on the board, and that motivates me. I know I need to put in the work and get those goals.
“If you don’t have any goals, what’s pushing you?”
Marino wants to earn the Eagles’ MVP award and set the program record for scoring and rebounds. He also wants a scholarship to play college basketball.
He has team goals, too — a Northern Lake County Conference championship is among them — but one is a little different.
“I want to be on a team where years from now, they say, ‘Back on Marino’s team, there was loudness in the gym, and they were always hustling,'” he said.
Marino is averaging 14.0 points and 7.0 for the Eagles (5-5, 2-0) this season. He had 22 points and 11 rebounds in a 51-46 win against Grayslake North on Dec. 4. Five days later, he had 16 points and seven rebounds in a 53-48 victory against Waukegan.
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Marino, who is a triplet, moved into the district the summer before his freshman year. He had lived on Chicago’s Far North Side. It didn’t take long for him to be noticed by Lakes coach Chris Snyder.
“The first we saw Brock was the fall of his freshman year,” Snyder said. “Just watching him play through his freshman year, we were impressed with him.”
Marino was promoted to varsity for the abbreviated season earlier this year, and he was an immediate contributor. After the summer, he joined the Illinois Triple Threat club team, where he impressed another coach, David Milostan.
“He’s one of those guys that you give him the ball, you can trust him to score or make a good pass out to take a 3-point shot,” Milostan said. “He’s got a great post presence, but he can shoot from the outside. He protects the rim pretty well and moves his feet pretty well too.”
Snyder and Milostan both have seen progress from Marino as a leader.
“He’s more of an example guy. … Every day in practice, he’s very consistent,” Snyder said, adding that Marino’s dedication on the court is equaled by his work in the classroom.
Marino said he tries to connect with his teammates in heated moments.
“I am the kind of guy who goes to that person and tries to calm them down or whatever it might take,” he said.
Snyder said Marino “hasn’t hit his best yet.”
Milostan added, “I think he could do just about anything. It all depends on how much he wants it.”
Marino said he has found the right place to pursue those goals.
“Lakes has been one of the best things that ever happened to me — the people, the teammates,” he said. “Everything has come together for the better.”
Gregg Voss is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.