Sure, tipoff time for boys basketball is months away, but the games have already begun.
While many high school players are with AAU teams in July, important questions have bubbled to the surface as transfers abound. Who’s coming? Who’s going?
It’s a constant state of change.
The baiduhai’s suburban publications cover some of the top teams in Illinois and Indiana — guards, forwards and centers, all trying to power programs to championships.
Today, in the second part of a weeklong three-part series, we take a look at the forwards and centers from a coverage area that runs from Wisconsin’s border through Chicago’s suburbs into Indiana.
This is what we’re seeing:
Morez Johnson, St. Rita
While competing with MeanStreets over the summer, including last week at the prestigious Peach Jam in South Carolina, junior forward Morez Johnson decided to focus on defense.
“I think my defense has improved going against some of the best kids in the country,” Johnson said. “My shot blocking got better. I think I averaged two blocks a game.”
Johnson, an Illinois recruit, averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots last season.
“Morez’s athleticism is really starting to take off,” St. Rita coach Roshawn Russell said. “He can block shots when it might seem like he’s not even close to the player because he can cover so much ground.
“I think he’s going to be the best shot blocker in the state.”
The 6-foot-8 Johnson teams with 6-9 James Brown — who recently picked up an offer from Duke — to form the state’s most highly recruited inside duo.
St. Rita has also added to its roster in a big way with several transfers, highlighted by another of the state’s top juniors in former Lemont star Nojus Indrusaitis.
Other new Mustangs include guards Nashawn Holmes (Homewood-Flossmoor) and Joseph White (Elevation Prep in Indiana).
“I’m really excited to play with all these guys on this team,” Johnson said. “I think our defense is going to get better throughout the year as our chemistry is built.”
Johnson expects to do his part to lead St. Rita to a Class 4A state championship.
“I’m ready to go,” he said. “This summer, I got better. I pushed myself more every game. I competed at a high level. Every game, I had a double-double. It definitely helped me get ready for this next season.”
Mason Jones, Valparaiso
Senior forward Mason Jones might be a little louder for Valparaiso next season.
With the Vikings losing a slew of players to graduation, the 6-7 Jones — who said he’s quieter by nature — knows one way to make his presence known heading into his senior year.
“Just being more vocal, on and off the court,” he said. “I can help coach up the younger guys on the team, making sure we’re communicating what we’re in, what we’re doing and what we can do better.”
That has been just one part of a busy summer for Jones.
Along with his on-court development, Jones checked off another item on the agenda by charting his college course. He committed to Ball State in early July, citing new coach Michael Lewis as one of the key factors.
“It just felt like a good fit and I wanted to be a part of it,” Jones said. “I knew I wanted to commit before the season started so that now I can just focus on high school.”
Jones expects an improved all-around performance this winter, saying there isn’t a specific part of his game that has been a focus this summer.
“It’s everything,” he said.
But Jones also believes he’s found two keys that have helped his body recover from the rigors of a year-round basketball schedule.
“What I’ve focused on is sleeping and stretching,” he said. “If you can do those two things, your body won’t get burned out as quickly.”
Jackson Langendorf, Waubonsie Valley
Senior forward Jackson Langendorf knows the first rule of the game.
Size without corresponding skill is meaningless.
“The big things for me this summer are about getting stronger, getting more athletic and working on my shot,” he said.
The 6-6 Langendorf enters his senior season as Waubonsie Valley’s tallest starter at 6-6.
Even the high school game is shaped increasingly by fluid, interchangeable and position-free players. That means having a versatile game to play all over the floor.
“I have worked really hard on cleaning up the mechanics of my shot,” he said. “I’m pretty tall, and I can use that to my advantage. The big thing is about speeding it up.”
Last season, in his first year on varsity, Langendorf averaged 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals to earn all-conference and all-area honors.
He follows the path of his older brother Carter, who played a postgraduate season at a prep academy in Florida and recently committed to Concordia.
Having a year under his belt also will help Langendorf.
“Varsity experience is invaluable as far as the mental game,” he said. “I know what it entails to be a varsity player.”
Langendorf took to heart a message from Waubonsie coach Andrew Schweitzer after the Warriors (15-15) finished an up-and-down season in Schweitzer’s debut.
“Coach said he wanted everybody to get a lot stronger this offseason,” said Langendorf, who has an offer from Knox and interest from St. Norbert.
High school remains his primary focus.
“Last year was really beneficial,” Langendorf said. “It taught me what I need to work on. I want to be the leader and make everyone accountable.”
Mekhi Lowery, Oswego East
He hasn’t gone unnoticed.
With the NCAA’s transfer portal flooded with college players wanting a change of scenery and more taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility awarded due to the pandemic, many high school seniors have struggled to attract attention.
Oswego East’s Mekhi Lowery isn’t one of them.
“Recruiting has been going good,” said Lowery, a versatile 6-6 senior who can play multiple positions and refers to himself as a point forward.
He has several Division I scholarship offers, and more could be coming.
Northern Illinois was the first to offer. Lowery’s list includes Valparaiso, Radford, Bowling Green, Eastern Illinois, Towson, Oakland and Southern Indiana.
“I’ve never had a dream school,” Lowery said. “I just want to play D-I.”
That much seems certain.
Last season, Lowery deferred to talented seniors Patrick Robinson and DeVon and Darren Oregon as far as vocal leadership for the sectional finalist Wolves (33-2), who set a program record for wins.
Lowery was hardly playing second fiddle, however.
His 11.5 scoring average was second only to Robinson’s 13.5 points. Lowery led the team with 7.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.7 steals.
“Mekhi was Mekhi,” Oswego East coach Ryan Velasquez said. “He really got his name out there. He’s long. He can defend. He can do a little bit of everything.
“Last year, he was our point guard most of the time. He can defend any position, and his jump shot is getting better.”
That can’t be good news for Southwest Prairie Conference coaches who remember the Wolves’ perfect run through the league.
The continued development of 6-6 senior wing Ryan Johnson and the addition of transfers Jehvion Starwood (Yorkville Christian) and Bryce Shoto (Plainfield Central) will help.
“I’ll have to use my voice more as well as lead by example,” Lowery said. “Everybody keeps asking if we repeat. I like having that target. I like our odds.”
Drew Scharnowski, Burlington Central
It seems like Burlington Central’s Drew Scharnowski has a new college offer almost daily.
The 6-8 senior forward couldn’t have even imagined that type of attention just a few months ago.
“It’s nothing you ever thought you would experience,” Scharnowski said. “I wasn’t even thinking of basketball like that — playing in the long term. Playing AAU opened my eyes.”
Scharnowski hadn’t played AAU basketball since middle school, but after the high school season ended, he decided to join Breakaway.
He saw immediate dividends.
“The first week I played with them, I got so much better,” Scharnowski said. “Being able to play against the top players across the country is a great opportunity.”
Burlington Central coach Brett Porto knows why Scharnowski has received over 20 Division I offers this summer.
Scharnowski’s length makes him a menace defensively, giving him the ability to guard all five positions. Offensively, he can hit shots from the outside, finish with authority around the rim and even run the offense from the point.
“The coaches are excited to see what he can do with his size and speed, especially with the way the game is played at the college level,” Porto said. “Defensively, at that level, he can switch on almost everything, which coaches love. He’s really multifaceted.”
After shining for the Rockets during summer tournaments in June at Ridgewood and Riverside-Brookfield, Scharnowski’s phone started heating up.
Playing AAU in July has only ratcheted up the attention.
“It happened so fast,” Porto said. “It was overwhelming. After that first week, I think he’s really enjoying it and understanding how rare this is.”
It’s become normal now for Scharnowski.
“It got pretty hectic, but I think I’ve done a good job balancing it,” he said. “It’s super cool to see my hard work pay off. I know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Asa Thomas, Lake Forest
Basketball has retaken center stage for Lake Forest’s Asa Thomas.
When the senior verbally committed on July 14 to Clemson, a large weight was lifted off his shoulders.
“It was a relief, for sure,” Thomas said. “It was a long process, and at points, it was a lot to handle. But it was a great problem to have and something I tried not to take for granted.”
With recruiting finished, Thomas is solely focused on enhancing the skills that helped him attract approximately 15 scholarship offers in the first place.
Known as an accurate outside shooter since his varsity debut as a freshman, Thomas has concentrated this summer on devising ways to become an even more dangerous scorer.
“I’m trying to improve my ballhandling and creativity, to try to loosen myself up for shots,” Thomas said. “It’s all about finding different ways to score and making myself harder to stop.”
Thomas also envisions an expanded interior presence. Despite a still slender frame, he’s grown to 6-8 and packs enough muscle to take advantage of smaller defenders.
“He’s gotten stronger, and that can result in getting to the basket more,” Lake Forest coach Phil LaScala said. “What he’s really gotten good at is feeling his way in what defenses give him.”
Thomas will employ these new tactics while being the center of attention for opposing defenses.
He has earned the extra scrutiny as well as the accolades. He was named first team all-state and the North Suburban Conference’s player of the year.
Surpassing the 27 wins and conference title the Scouts produced in 2021-22 will be a barometer this winter.
“I can’t wait to get going on the season with the guys because it should be a pretty fun year,” Thomas said.
Staff reporter Rick Armstrong and freelance reporters Paul Johnson, Patrick Z. McGavin, Dave Melton, Steve Millar and Steve Reaven contributed.