And then there was Ben Van Lyssel.
The Libertyville senior forward is essentially the only player left from the team that won a sectional title last season. Heavy graduation losses created a need for others to step forward, both on and off the court, and Van Lyssel has done that.
“I knew it was going to be different and a big change from last year,” Van Lyssel said. “The main thing for me coming in was to believe in myself and the guys around me, knowing that we can do this.”
With Van Lyssel reaching new heights amid an influx of talent from the lower levels, the Wildcats (4-7, 1-3) have been more than competitive against a rugged schedule. The 6-foot-4 forward scored a career-high 32 points during Libertyville’s 73-59 North Suburban Conference win against Mundelein on Saturday.
“We’re getting better every single game,” Van Lyssel said. “I like the trust we have in each other, and once we gain more chemistry, we’ll be a solid team. We have a lot of talent, but it takes time.”
That’s a perspective that Libertyville coach Brian Zyrkowski knew he could count on Van Lyssel to provide. To have earned any playing time last season, Van Lyssel already proved he belonged, and his ascension has put him on a new level.
“We’re asking a lot of him because he’s essentially our entire size,” Zyrkowski said. “He’s also a big part of our success in making sure there’s buy-in from everyone. He’s the reason guys come to compete hard every night because they can follow his lead.”
Van Lyssel, who has embraced those responsibilities, said he didn’t come away empty-handed after playing sparingly last season.
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“I picked up a lot of good stuff from those seniors that I’ve used this year,” he said. “I saw how they carried each other and held each other accountable. I saw the good habits they had.”
Van Lyssel is averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists entering the weekend. Those numbers show an all-around game that Van Lyssel has worked hard to develop and reflect the fact that he’s being pulled in a lot of different directions, depending on the matchup.
“He’s playing the same role our big guys did last year, to score from the inside and outside, and he has the ability to get to the rim from the perimeter,” Zyrkowski said.
Indeed, Van Lyssel feels much different on the court this season.
“Last year when I played, I was just trying not to make a mistake,” he said. “I wasn’t worried about scoring. Now when I have the ball, I want to be a threat and make myself dangerous, whether that means creating shots for others or looking for any lane I can drive.”
That aggressiveness was on display against Mundelein, when Van Lyssel showed his ability to play through contact. He made 10 of 11 shots from the free-throw line and had 10 rebounds.
“The first half was a little slow, but I saw a couple of shots fall and got into a groove,” he said. “That was fun. I had a rough couple of games before that, so I needed a good one to help my confidence.”
Van Lyssel’s teammates have confidence in him. It also quickly became apparent to them that emulating Van Lyssel is wise.
“He always says to practice how you play and to have the same intensity as in games,” junior guard Liam Hanson said. “He pushes everyone every day to be the best version of themselves. The competitiveness he brings is a huge help.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.