New-Look Wildkits Set For Basketball Debut

Once preseason tryouts were over, Evanston head basketball coach Mike Ellis asked the surviving players the next day --- before they began their sprinting drills --- to step forward if they had ever even participated in a varsity practice before.

Only half of them did, and that included Theo Rocca and Ian Peters, who as sophomores were up on the varsity team for a couple of weeks at the end of the season.

The changing of the guard for a program that has relied on transfer students the last couple of seasons will include ZERO returning starters for the 2023-24 campaign. Even with 6 seniors on the roster, the Kits definitely fall into the “new look” category as they open their season this week at the Fenton Thanksgiving Tournament.

So why is Ellis smiling? Because he knows that smart players who are good shooters can take a team a long way in high school basketball.

And the Wildkits have both.

“I think our shooting skill set will be an advantage this year,” said Ellis. “Last year we had only one good 3-point shooter in Jonah Ross (45 percent) and the rest of the guys were streak shooters. I don’t see any streak shooters in this group. I think any one of them is capable of getting double figures on any given night.

“I’d compare this group to the Nojel Eastern/Lance Jones/Malcolm Townsel group, and to the Jaheim Holden/Blake Peters/Ryan Bost group, because their scrimmage numbers so far are similar to those two eras. Their efficiency in the same drills has been equal to those guys.

“I don’t worry about our (varsity) inexperience because of the amount of basketball guys play now before they even get to high school on their travel teams, and against some of the best players in the country. What is more important than experience is the cohesiveness and chemistry that develops between them. A lot of our newcomers have played together (on the sophomore level) and I like where we’re at, at this point.”

Since they weren’t invited back to defend their title at the Saint Viator Thanksgiving Tournament, the Kits joined the field at Fenton. They open Tuesday versus Chicago Clemente at 6 p.m., and continue pool play Wednesday at 6 (versus Wheaton Warrenville South) and Friday at 5:30 (versus Rolling Meadows). They’ll conclude tourney play with a crossover game on Saturday.

The new roster includes two freshmen, Vito Rocca and Dion Lane, and two sophomores, Timi Oguynsanya and Monte Dillard Jr. It’s not necessarily a youth movement, because Ellis has kept 14-year-olds on the varsity roster in the past, and it’s likely that the Kits will lean on their seniors heavily at the start of the campaign, at least.

Seniors Brandon Watson and Morgan Brown logged the most court time among the varsity veterans returning from a 24-9 team that lost to Glenbrook South in the regional championship game. Watson, a 5-foot-9 senior, backed up graduated starter Hunter Duncan for most of the season but came on strong over the final 3 weeks and actually started three games. Brown, a 6-5 forward, started twice but usually was used to give post players Prince Adams and Josh Thomas a rest.

They’ll play expanded roles this year and will probably be joined by the 5-9 Peters, 6-4 junior Theo Rocca, and 6-4 frosh Vito Rocca in the starting lineup for the opener. Seniors Tyler Dennis (6-1) and Antoine Thomas (6-3) will also be in the mix, along with sharpshooting juniors Ben Crabbe (6-3) and Emmett Sehgal (5-11).

Also challenging for playing time are seniors Jonny Dickson and Yan Nalls, along with juniors Ryan Ivory and Jayden Rodriguez.

Watson delivered dazzling performances in the final two preseason scrimmages last week, including a 15-point splurge in Wednesday’s annual Orange versus Blue affair, and is most dangerous in the open court.

“Both Brandon and Morgan need to take the next step, to give us more consistentcy,” Ellis explained. “They have to use their experience to our advantage, because they’ve been through more here than anyone else on the roster.

“Brandon Watson is a player who can take us to a level not many can push us to. He has the ability to shoot 3s, to get into the paint and to be active defensively. As a point guard, he’s more worried about how the team is playing, not how he (himself) is playing. He has to be more vocal so he can put us in a position to avoid any breakdowns before they happen. Communication will be critical for us this year.

“Morgan has the most versatile game on this team because he can go outside and shoot, and he can consistently score at the rim. He has the most balanced game. He has a lot going for him.”

The brothers Rocca figure to be impact players sooner rather than later. The offspring of ETHS Hall of Famer Mason Rocca, who was a 3-sport standout in basketball, soccer and baseball, the pair have already displayed high basketball IQs to go with their ability to put the ball in the basket.

Theo Rocca could emerge as the team’s top 3-point threat after taking on that role all summer and in preseason workouts. And Vito? He’s expected to become only the third freshman in Ellis’ 20 years as a head coach to earn a starting job from Day 1 of his career.

The other two, Bill Cole (at Peoria Richwoods) and Nojel Eastern, went on to become All-Staters by the time they graduated.

“Theo Rocca is a Division I player, no doubt about it,” said the ETHS coach. “He got quicker and stronger over the summer, and with his size he can shoot over people. I think his work ethic is his strength, and that’s what gives him the confidence to be such a good shooter. And he’s really developed a will to win. Winning really matters to him, not just winning games, just winning a loose ball or a rebound.

“Vito will definitely start (Tuesday). He knows the game like he’s a senior, and that’s really impressive to me. He knows the sets, he doesn’t make mistakes and that’s rare for a freshman. He’ll stick his nose in there after a loose ball, he’ll crash the boards, he’ll hit the right man (with a pass) at the right time. There’s a lot to love about his game.”

Ellis and his staff were somehow able to mold 5 transfer students into a solid defensive unit that last year only permitted 49 points per game. But the lack of size, especially in the backcourt, will make it difficult for the Wildkits to continue that trend this season.

“We have two really good point guards in Brandon and Ian (Peters). Since we’re not that big, we can’t take you out of your offense with two guards under 6 feet,” Ellis acknowledged. “We’ve always had at least one guard who was 6-2 or taller, but not now. We’ll need to be more disciplined with our off the ball defense and try to figure out what puts us in the best position to succeed.”

The veteran mentor also plans changes at the offensive end to better fit Evanston’s personnel.

“We’ve always run ball screens to let them create mismatches in the past,” said the coach, “but this year we’re going to a 5-out motion offense that offers them the chance to cut and screen, to open up the paint. It’s the same offense that all of the teams in the NBA (National Basketball Association) run.

“We have a group of smart players and this will give them more freedom, and chance to read defenses and react based on what they see on the floor. I think that will help with their growth as players.”

New opponents on the 2023-24 schedule include Deerfield, which is switching divisions in the Central Suburban League, plus Bulls Prep and Mundelein Carmel. The Wildkits will return to the Team Rose Shootout December 9th at Mount Carmel, matched again against Marian Catholic, and will play in the annual War On The Shore shootout January 27th against Saint Patrick at New Trier.