The long and short of it when it comes to Bartlett’s Conrad Luczynski is this.
There is no short of it.
Even recruiting, which had been mysteriously low-key for Luczynski, a 7-foot-3 senior center, is starting to pick up.
For that, Hawks coach Jim Wolfsmith is grateful.
“I think the word is getting out,” said Wolfsmith, one of two big supporters who were on hand Tuesday night when Luczynski led Bartlett against Upstate Eight Conference rival East Aurora.
Tomcats coach Rick Robinson, who is 6-6 and played in college at Eastern Illinois, is the other.
Robinson watched Luczynski score 25 points and spark an impressive fast break that helped key the Hawks’ 82-57 victory.
“I’d say Luczynski has improved a whole lot from the gangly kid I saw as a freshman,” Robinson said. “I can see him playing Division I, depending on what program he gets into. The weight room will be his friend. He needs to bulk up, but he’s gotten better.
“He’s a good one, as long as he has the attitude he wants to work. I even saw him out there before the game dancing a little bit to the music in warm-ups, so he does have some rhythm, too. That’s always a big plus.”
The 6-9 Wolfsmith also has been beating the drum for his star player, hoping to help Luczynski land a Division I scholarship.
It may be paying off, because in the past few weeks the coach has been contacted by Purdue, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Northern Iowa, North Dakota and Loyola.
More Top Picks Best Cordless Oscillating Tools For Trim Removal
“No offers yet,” Luczynski said. “I’ve got a lot of D-I interest along with some D-II scholarship offers.”
Wolfsmith thinks it will require some more time, with college players still taking advantage of the NCAA’s transfer portal, but he feels it’s going to happen.
Bartlett (21-6, 13-2) stayed in the UEC title race Tuesday but time is running out there, however. The Hawks will need some help too, trailing Larkin by two games without any remaining head-to-head matchups against the Royals.
East Aurora (16-9, 10-5) could lend a hand Friday at Larkin, and Robinson would like to get his team back on track as the playoffs inch closer.
“Our guys were taking it a little too deep,” Robinson said. “My guys will hit floaters and pullup jump shots but they were taking it too deep in there.
“I guess they wanted to challenge (Luczynski) but he had seven or eight blocks easily.”
That also left East Aurora vulnerable to breakouts by Bartlett’s guards in sophomore Kelton McEwen and junior Martin McCarthy, who added 23 and 17 points, respectively.
They were often the beneficiaries of Luczynski’s outlet passes.
East Aurora’s Jabian Acosta, a 6-5 junior and one of four players Robinson rotated in to guard Bartlett’s big star, saw it firsthand.
“What he did tonight was ridiculous,” Acosta said of Luczynski. “I never saw that before. He was chucking up Hail Marys off the rebounds. Usually, we don’t get outrun.”
Acosta finished with seven points before fouling out. Acosta’s brother, Jullian, Stephen Dorsey and 6-7 Ibrahim Koroma took turns defending Luczynski.
Jullian Acosta and Ralph Clark led East Aurora with 13 points apiece and James Parker added 12.
“Trying to get shots over him was tough, he was blocking everything,” Jabian Acosta said. “We were getting into his body but not getting the calls we wanted. Bartlett just gave us their best shot.
“I was proud of Koroma and Dorsey off the bench. I thought they stepped up to the task.”
Robinson couldn’t argue.
More Top Picks Beauty And Personal Care
“I thought my four guys played him well,” he said. “He’s 7-3. He’s 7-foot-3. He’s going to get some buckets, but they made him work for things.”
Wolfsmith hopes more people notice.