Kane County Preps Podcast: Hoops is back!

Jake and Josh return after a long hiatus to discuss everything hoops from covid protocols, team previews and more.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hello everybody. Jacob Bartleston, JoshuaWelgee, We're going to be doing something
a little bit different, at leastfor this week. Our typical preps podcast
that you have heard this goes backabout a year now. It's been a
while since we've done this. Josh, We're gonna try a zoom call this
week to try to do just somethingdifferent. But the fact of the matter
is we're talking basketball, we're talkingsports, and this has been something we've

(00:23):
been waiting for almost about a yearnow. So I'm just excited to chat
with you and kind of get backto what we've been doing, you know,
before all this happened. I knowI'm excited too. I think it's
it's going on about eleven months.It's close to eleven months since since the
basketball playoffs were where the rest ofthe basketb players were canceled, and and

(00:43):
it's it's been you know, it'sbeen a it's been a long month,
long eleven months for a lot ofpeople. Um, you know, certainly
kids and coaches and teachers that areinvolved in athletics and we haven't had sports,
and we did have some sports inthe fall, but but boy,
it has really been a whirlwind coupleweeks to stay the least. I mean,
I did think if you would havetold me about two weeks ago or

(01:07):
two and a half weeks ago thatwe were going to be having basketball this
week right away, I would havesaid, you know, no way I
was. I was kind of tothe point where I either didn't know if
we were going to have a basketballseason or at the very least, or
if I had to go one wayor the other. I was pretty pessimistic,
and I thought maybe we'd play inthe spring. But you know,
things things have changed. I mean, they they set the metrics out there

(01:30):
that if regions got to a certainyou know, positivity range, that they
would be able to play in abig The big change was that they actually
did the state did get the greenlight that yes, if you did reach
these metrics, you will be ableto play every sport, including the what
they call higher risk sports, playedbasketball. And once they gave that blessing,
then it was basically just a matterof of hey, can we get

(01:53):
can we get to that point inthe state or in your particular region.
And you know, thankfully, asof I think yesterday, every COVID region
in the state of Illinois ads gotto that six point five percent or less
positivity range. So knock on wood, Um, you know they're there.
They continue to do so, andso now, um, I mean,

(02:14):
if districts are school districts, andschools choose to go ahead and compete,
I mean it's a it's a districtdecision. Still, if they wanted to
or not, then then kids canand and boy, we've already had games.
I mean there's games. I couldn'tbelieve it. Like last Friday,
teams are playing and that was kindof an amazing to see. But uh,
but you know, really a goodthing for these kids. I mean,

(02:36):
I think there's there's there's still somedebate. There's people out there.
I know I've talked to them thatare uncomfortable with with people gathering and games
being held, especially indoors, youknow, with the safety issues, and
I understand that, and everybody hasa right to their opinion. Um.
But at the same time, it'sgood that these kids are going to get
a chance to get together with theirfriends, you know, practice at the

(02:59):
very least, and then get achance to compete, which I mean that's
what they love to do. Theycan be with their coach, they can
be with their friends and they canget out there on the court, you
know, in seniors cases one lasttime, Yeah, to jump in there.
You know, my feelings and kindof channeling when you talk with other

(03:20):
people. I'm sure you've had similarconversations. Is for sports, it was
like, okay, like just tellus what we need to do to get
there and we'll do it right,Like what do we need to do in
order to play? And I thinka lot of coaches and kids just kind
of got a little frustrated with ittowards the end because it seems like,
you know, there was you know, disagreement and how to get there in

(03:43):
different things. But the fact ofthe matter is is now we're playing.
I think it's absolutely a positive thingthat they're playing. You know, I
did that mental health story, andyou know, everybody's story is different,
but I think it was pretty clearthat kids were missing sports and it was
important for them to get back.So it's a good thing to see.
Um, it's gonna be a verydifferent year. Um, you know,
in terms of how these games arestructured and spectators and fans. If we

(04:09):
want to kind of talk a littlebit about that, Um, what is
it going to look like for forpeople I need in order to consume this.
Yeah, well, I mean there'sthere's a lot of different things.
I mean, number one, wearingwearing masks. I mean that's that's something
that everybody at an athletic event,whether they are a competitor, whether they
are a coach, whether they arean official, whether they're a spectator.

(04:31):
Um, you know, they're gonnahave to wear uh, facial coveries.
And I know that's something that's alittle bit different, especially for kids that
are competing, uh in a ina very vigorous sport like basketball. Um,
it is done. I've seen itdone in other states as well.
It's not like we're the only statethat has done that, but but it
will be something to get used to. Um, they do have that that

(04:53):
they they're doing the I think it'sa one minute mass break, uh mass
break every quarter. It's sort ofyou know, for lack of a better
phrase, catch their breath, uhmaybe a little bit. Um. So,
so that'll be something to get usedto. You know. Hopefully we
don't have any you know, issueswith with fans. I mean, you
know, that's the last thing wewant, is it is for you know,

(05:15):
fans to be able to add agame, and and and and and
having to deal with that with administrators. But so wearing masks a big thing.
Um there is a if you're inPhase four, which every region to
state it is, now you're allowed, um up to fifty spectators. And
that's not including the participants in thegame. It's in our case, it's
not including uh media, and mediais sort of separate from that. Um

(05:39):
So, so that's gonna be different. I mean, you're not gonna get
that full house packed Jim type ofatmosphere for a basketball game. And that's
gonna be something for um, youknow, these these these kids and everyone
to get used to. It's goingto be something for fans to get used
to because um, you know,there's probably a lot of classmates that are
not gonna be able to see bassWall that are probably gonna be watching on

(06:00):
stream. Um So, so that'sgonna be something to get used to.
Different conferences, different schools are handlingthis all in different ways because it's it's
a fifty. The fifty spectator isa that's that's the rule. But how
you and how you and decide howyou get to that fifty is a conference

(06:21):
or school's decision. I know,Um, like the Southwest Prairie Conference with
Oswegos and the Joliets, they're justallowing home fans at their game. So
I think they get every participant andgets a couple tickets for their family or
whatever. Um. Then in thelike the Interstate eight Conference with Kalin participations

(06:41):
in I believe the home team eightplayer gets the couple tickets and then any
away one. Um. I've heardthere's some leagues that I've heard of were
some schools that are they're just notgoing to allow fans at the game.
So um, so that's gonna besomething to get used to. Basketball is
also a very usually a very longslog of a season from November to in

(07:09):
Boys Well, Boys Anger, it'scase March. This is gonna be a
sprint. I mean, you're talkingabout a five week season marathon. I
mean I have heard of a coupleof teams that are scheduling twenty to twenty
five games, which seems a littlebit ambitious and could lead to injuries and
things like that. I think mostcoaches that I've taught to, they're kind

(07:30):
of sweet spoted to try to getthe fifteen games, which would allow three
games a week. You can maybeplay your conference schedule and maybe get a
couple of non conference games in there. There are some leagues that are doing
a conference tournament when they don't usuallydo one, like the Southwest Prairie Conference
is doing a conference tournament at theend of the season after they go once

(07:54):
around. So there's differences there,but again it's it's a it's a shortened
season, it's a sprint, andso that's different. The other thing is
is how teams are scheduling. Oneinteresting situation is the Duquesne Conference with Geneva,
Saint Charles Whedon's and everyone playing.They are part of their schedule as

(08:18):
they're playing Sunday games, which isunusual. I mean in the past,
I've seen some shootouts or big eventslike that occasionally and Sundays, but you
don't normally you see a conference scheduleon a Sunday. I think there is
a number of reasons that led tothat decision, one of which was the
availability of officials. I was told. So that'll be something a little bit

(08:39):
to give us to is you know, when I first saw the schedule,
I emailed one of the ads andI said is this true? And he
said, yeah, okay, Imean because it starts the Sunday after Super
Bowl Sunday, and I think itconcludes the Sunday before March Madness. So
but so just a lot of differences. What are you seeing? I mean,
I think you covered it very well, extremely comprehensive. You know.

(09:01):
The only other additions that I wouldmake is, you know, for fans
that might not want to wear amask, sorry you can't come, you
know what I mean, It's assimple as that. Then watch the stream
and you know, handle it thatway. I think you know, schools
are doing They're moving heaven and earthin order for this to happen, right,
I mean, like, let's justgive baseline credit across the board to

(09:24):
not only the teams, but theathletic directors and everybody else, because again,
you know, you and I talkedto eighties and coaches and things.
They're working around the clock to makethis stuff happen. So I just got
to commend them for even making thishappen, you know, for us.
I think it's interesting, you know, like I you know, I got

(09:45):
that email that I got to showup like twenty minutes early, and the
doors are closing at tip off.So you know, again I can't speak
for every single conference or school,but it's not like you're probably gonna be
able to walk up to the doorand just and come right in. So
I think that'll be in adjustment interms of scheduling and traffic and now that
the weather super cold and snow like, you know, you really got to
kind of preplan this stuff out.So um But nonetheless, you know basketball

(10:11):
is here. There's adjustments, yes, but I think speaking from you know,
generally speaking, most people will willtake what they get, you know,
absolutely, And the one thing thatI've seen too is that, um,
yeah, you're gonna have to makesome some adjustments into your normal routine.
And that goes for us, thatgoes for athletes, that goes for
fans, that goes for schools.The one thing that I have seen and

(10:33):
I hope it continues to see,is it seems like there's sort of a
camaraderie of we're all in this togethertype thing that hey, things are not
the way they normally are, um, but you know, we're again,
we're all in this together. Thisis a once in a century type situation,
and at the end of the day, we want, um, you

(10:54):
know, in this case, kidsto be able to go out there,
um, you know, and competeand get a chance to be together.
UM. You know when when whenyou don't kind of think about individual um
you know, kids, you don'treally think about what it might mean.
But you know, as we wereputting together our previews this week and kind
of I was kind of revisiting storiesthat I knew about before pandemic hit,

(11:18):
I started realizing about, you know, what a season might mean for some
people. I mean, there's athere's a senior basketball player for US we
Goo McKenna Angler, who she toreACL at the end of her sophomore season
at the end of her junior season. She was not able to finish either
of those seasons. She's going tobe able to do right, kind of

(11:39):
kind of getting emotional think about it. But that means a lot for her
for her to be able to dothat. And it doesn't even mean that
she has to compete in a postseasongame or or or anything like that.
She's just going to be able tofinish the finish her senior year on her
terms on the court. So,UM, I look at that, and
I you know, I think it'sa it's a good thing, great example.

(12:01):
I love that because there's there's nuggetslike that everywhere, which is what
I'm really excited about, you know, as a journalist to kind of dive
into some of these things. Youknow, there are people coming back from
injury, as you alluded to,there are people that are still fighting for
a chance to go play in college. And this is across all sports,
including basketball. So to get toget filmed and to get a little bit

(12:22):
more exposure, I mean, thatcould be the difference between getting a scholarship
to the school or the program thatthey want or not. And so and
you know how many athletes have youtalked to you over the last number of
weeks that they're still trying to figurethis out. So I think that'll be
really interesting too. You know,so much as sports, I think too
is and high school of sports tome, is really not about the wins
and losses. Like, yes,like you want to win a regional title

(12:45):
or sectional title, you know,that stuff matters, But the team building,
the camaraderie, the experiences, thebus rides, like when you a
lot of times when I talk tothese juniors and seniors, like that's the
stuff they really want to talk about, and so I think that's I think
I'm really excited just to to youknow, get those nuggets. Yeah,
there's no doubt. I mean,I'm sure everyone would love for a chance

(13:09):
to go compete in the playoffs andhave their traditional postseason. But in five
or ten years, I mean,I think most of these kids, they're
not going to be unless they wina same title. They're not gonna be
thinking about that. They're gonna bethinking about those bus rides, those practices,
those inside jokes and and things likethat. And then the vast majority
of these kids cases, they're notgoing to compete in college. So this

(13:33):
is their last moment, I mean. And in a lot of cases,
it's people that you know, maybewhen they were a junior, they were
that ninth or tenth person that's kindof got into a game occasionally, and
they worked. They worked and workedand worked, and this was going to
be their opportunity to get on thecourt, you know, maybe be a
starter, get into the game.Weren't often. Now they're going to get
the chance to do that, andmay not the season may not look the

(13:56):
same, but they're still going toget a chance to do that and if
we wouldn't have had a season,then they would have been left, you
know, kind of wondering what mayhave happened and that and that's top.
So Um. Again, I knowthere's a lot of safety concerns and I
know there's a lot of different perspectiveson this, but I am happy that
kids get a chance to do thatone one hundred percent totally with you.

(14:18):
That being said, let's talk somegames. Let's talk let's talk teams,
because you know we've been cranking outemails and calls over the last number of
days. Um, you know,starting with the Duquene Conference, maybe with
the girls. Um, Geneva tome always stands out right. I mean,
it's a consistent winner program. Ithink Sarah Metos is one of the

(14:39):
top coaches and if not the conferencethen certainly honestly in the state when it
comes to growth basketball, she's outstanding. Um, they lose Lindsay Blackmore,
and they lose a lot of seniorexperience, but they returned Kay Palmer,
and I think she's a great player, and she is a great player,
and she was sort of like youknow, maybe Lindsay Blackmore's Robin the Whackmore's

(15:00):
batman the last you know, yearor two and now she's and now she's
sort of their lead player. Nowthat being said, Captain d Arnie we
talked about her a lot last year. She was a great, you know,
young player for them, and Ithink, you know, I'll be
it's gonna be a short season.I think she's she's probably gonna have a
really good year. So, um, you know, Geneva is gonna be
a fun team to watch. Ilook forward to hopefully getting a chance to

(15:20):
see them over the next few weeks. Um. As we continue in the
Duke Quane Conference, UM, wetalked about players can be back for injury.
Emma Lodwork for Saint Charles North.She was a really impressive player a
couple of years ago as a freshman. I believe, um she she got
hurt and wasn't able to play lastyear. If I'm not mistaken, she's

(15:41):
back and I'm looking forward to seeing, um, you know what she can
do on the court. Yeah,absolutely, I'm sorry by somebody that I
live with is decided that this isthe time to knock off the icicles with
the with the pounding. So ifthis happens, I'm sorry, but no,
Ema Lodwi exactly right. You know, she tores y'all lost her sophomore
year, not standing freshman year.So I really think that the conference is

(16:03):
going to be reminded like she's agreat player, um, you know,
and and they return a number ofquality starters, Talia Pellagrini, Tatum Stelmayer,
Alyssa Hughes is a great three pointshooter. Um, you know,
she'll be a sophomore. I remembertalking with with coach Tom Zach and he's
and this is before she even playedas a freshman. She's like, hey,
He's like, she's she can shecan Balluh so looking forward to that.

(16:25):
Um, you know, Saint CharlesEas it'll be interesting too, new
coach with coach Murphy coming over fromthe guy side. UM, so I
think that'd be really really interesting.He's highly invested. Um, I enjoy
his energy honestly in passion for thegame. Mhmm yeah, yeah, I
would agree with that, and speakinga pass for the game. Um,
we're gonna go to Batavia With KevinJensen. We talked about people that were

(16:51):
that were pretty vocal when there wasin sports going on. I think there's
probably no more vocal coach and retweetingand everything that I know of than Kevin
chants to immediate at least on record, I'll say that at least on the
record. Yeah, yes, hewas. He was. He was pretty
pretty clear, you know how howhe was feeling about what was going on.
But but his team, Um,they lose Aaron Golden, but they

(17:11):
do bring it back. Tessa Towersthe really good post player, and they
have a freshman that is supposed tobe pretty good, right Brook Carlson.
I haven't seen her play. Um, I'll get to see her tomorrow,
which is which is exciting. UMcoach Shensen said that she's got Division one
talent as a freshman. Um,and I had a number of people actually,
uh go into my Twitter dms andthey're like, hey, keep an

(17:33):
eye on this this girl. Soyeah, I heard about her last year
that they had a good player comingin. Yeah. I don't. I
don't want to put too much pressureon on the young lady obviously, but
UM, definitely definitely somebody to watchbecause she's gonna be starting as a freshman,
which is not super super uncommon,but when a freshman starts usually the
means they can they mean something theycan play. Yeah, yeah it does.

(17:56):
And uh the Tavia they'll be playingBrunton Central tomorrow. You'll be there
first game of the year. Sothat's something to look forward to. UM.
Purnton Central team last year that thatthat got into the sectionals. UM.
They did graduate Cat Schmidt who's nowat Lewis. She's doing some really
good things for Lewis. UM,so is Stephanie Hart that that played at
Geneva. So Cat's gone, butthey do bring back Atlanta Wells as an

(18:19):
alane on our land. I'm sorryif i'm mister. Um. One of
the better point guards in an area, probably even the state. Uh,
just a just a great player who'sone of the I mean, I think
she was among the leaders in everystatistical category in Kane County last year.
UM. And then they bring ina transfer from Montini, Taylor Charles,

(18:40):
who's I saw quite a bit lastyear. UM. She is a player,
very highly regarded. She has anumber of high divisional offers already.
I think produce Offerer. Maybe Iwas Offerer, but she's you know,
six two wish. I think Umcan shoot really athletic, and I think
her in a line of wells aregoing to really play well off with each

(19:02):
other. Absolutely, I mean,obviously they were two young ladies for the
five players to watch that that wedid. Defensively, I'm really excited to
see how Taylor fits into I've heardreally good things and what she does on
the defensive side of the ball mwhich I think would be really interesting to
see for for Central Alana, Imean, she led like she led Central

(19:22):
in terms of like everything and otherthan like one category. So I've always
thought very highly of her, notonly as a person but as a basketball
player for sure. So the factthat she gets to play and have one
more year, I'm really happy forher. Kinlan, we can talk really
briefly. The reason why this thiscame up was Chloe Conley. Um,
she's coming back from a torn aclso for her senior year. So I'm

(19:45):
excited for her in order to getyou know, get back and playing.
So m you know, but Iknow you also do Kettle County and suburban
life and you did all those.What are some teams for for people to
kind of pay attention to for that? Yeah, I mean, and before
we transition over, talked about theguys side. Um, you know,
some teams that I'm kind of instantto see your. Last year, Um,

(20:07):
they played Saint Charles North and wasat the regional final. I believe
I think your played him in regionalin New York. Won. It was
their first regional championships since I believe, oh nine, their best season in
like fifteen years. Um, theybring back almost they I think they returned
four their five starters and like sevenof their top eight. So they were
another one of those teams that,UM, sort of when you're away from

(20:32):
the sport for ten months, youforget like, oh, that's right,
they were gonna be really good tous here. So um uh they're a
team that I'm really excited to seehow they do and to watch play.
UM Nazareth a team that sets somesuccess the last couple of years. They
have a young lady, Caroline Workman, who played UM a bench on their

(20:53):
state team last year or two yearsago rather, and then she tore labram
and her hip and miss all oflast year. Well she's healthy now she's
back, and you know, they'reanother person I'm sure very excited to play.
And then they have a great freshmanclass coming in, so they're a
team then I'm looking forward to toseeing how they do. And then Willowbrook,

(21:14):
we mentioned a Tayor Charles transferred fromMontina to Burlington Central. Actually several
Montini players left. I'm not surepeople are work. Jason Nichols are head
coach for a long time, hadsuccess. He took the job at Morton
Community College and Cistero, and let'sjust say that a lot of people last
Montini when he left. But twoof their key players from last year,

(21:34):
Sophie Sullivan and Teras Thornton, who'sgoing to Eastern Illinois, they both transferred
to their public district, Willowbrook andVilla Park, who already had a really
good player, Steph Dozbach who averageda double double last year, and m
you know, you put a coupleof good, really good players together and
then you get a really good player. And then they also had a young

(21:56):
lady, Gracie Timilty if you knowto Milt see if that name sounds familiar.
Yes, she's a younger sister ofSam Timilty. So she's back from
a torn acl So that's a teamthat I'm really looking forward to see employed
absolutely great recap around the area andmore for the girls, let's talk guys
Duque Conference. I think we gotto start with Saint Charles North. You

(22:19):
know, the last number of yearsregional titles, they get to the sectional
semi final. That was the lastbasketball game I ever covered up until you
know, the stoppage. I'll neverforget it because we're waiting and we're waiting
for coach poland for postgame comments andI'm reading Twitter in the NBA game stopped
like midway through and we never gotto see what would end up happening with

(22:40):
with that magical season, I liketo think that they have a really good
chance of winning that sectional. Butnonetheless, this season they bring back Ethan
Marlowe and Max Love. They graduateda lot of seniors, but those two
in particular as juniors, I thinkour prime for a huge year. As
I put in my top five playersto watch, Yeah, I mean they
were a big part of what theirsuccess last year as sort of those you

(23:03):
know, complimentary players to the tothe counter winkings of the world, and
now this is you know, theirtheir team and their time to step forward
and shine. But you know,when you've had that that kind of success
and you've been part of it,then you have to think that it's going
to continue on UM Saint Charles.He's another team that a great year last
year, and they graduated some guys, but they have some guys coming back
too. I mean, Joe Musicalstands out to me. Yeah, and

(23:26):
in some ways, I don't knowwhat the expectations were for them last year,
but they far surpassed them, isyou know, generally speaking right,
But this year, yeah, Imean, they bring back Joe Muzuo and
I didn't really get to know himall that while and towards the end of
the year, but I remember doinga story in postgame conference with some teammates
and they call him the Jet,which means he's fast, and yeah,

(23:47):
he's really fast. East likes to, you know, really pick up the
pace offensively. I'm not sure ifthey're going to be doing that as much
this year or not, but Joe, for scher, is probably going to
be one of their top guards.Um. They also brought in a transfer
Ed Sneed from Bowling Brook I'm interestedin and it sounds like East has got
some size coming in, you know, six four, six five guys,
So you know, they've traditionally beena pretty good rebounding team I guess is

(24:07):
they're probably gonna be a little bitmore beefed up this year. Yeah,
yeah, definitely interesting to watch.You know. You know they're Geneva M
Nathan Valentine coming back for them atguard I believe in any you recently commit
for Cowards. So, uh sohe's a guy to watch leading what what
what have you learn about Geneva thisweek? Well? Yeah, I mean

(24:30):
you start off with Nate righty,he committed to Illinois Wesleyan UM A really
good shooter. UM. I thinkhe's a pretty gifted pastor too. They
also bring back Dylan food Zac,a talented forward. UM. He has
committed it's an Indiana school. UM, but he's a really talented forward.
He's like six seven six a definitelycan rebound a lot of high energy.

(24:51):
And I think so it starts withthose two, um, and then they
bring back Quinn mcneve, a seniorwho can shoot the three pretty well.
He's a pretty i'll call kind oflike a bulldog on defense, Like I
kind of see him kind of geta little scrappy. So he's coming back.
There's m Ryan Husky is a namethat I'm I was supposed to get
pretty familiar with here as the seasongets going. He's a six four junior.

(25:14):
Don't know too much about his game, but but coach enk said,
keep an eye out for this guy. Yeah. Usually when a coach tells
you in a preseason to keep aneye on him, usually coaches are pretty
modest and and they don't tell youto look out for a guy unless they
really mean it and and there actuallyare someone and so go out towards.
So we'll definitely keep an eye outfor him. Uh. Batavia U graduated

(25:34):
Jaden Johnson. They graduated Devin Cheney, so kind of lose some size and
some scoring there, you know whatabout Batavia. Yeah, I think it's
gonna be really strange for me,you know, not seeing Jaden Johnson play
because I didn't get to see hisfreshman year because don't start for three or
four years. So yeah, soI got to know him really well and
I actually do keep in touch withhim. He's doing really well Illinois State,

(25:56):
so that's great to see. Butthey do bring back Ethan Ivan,
Luke Fehrenbacher, some talented guards.Trent Tussana started as a sophomore last year.
He's going to be coming back aswell, so they do have experience.
Think about Betavias, they have sucha long bench, like you look
over and there's like twenty people.I mean, it'll be different this year
obviously with COVID, but you knowthere's twenty people down there, so there's

(26:17):
usually like two or three guys thatyou kind of find out can play,
just because they have such a deep, you know, a deep bench.
So Batavia will be competitive, Ithink for sure. You know, they've
always played teams pretty well, solooking forward to seeing them. Burlington Central.
I'm really looking forward to see whatthey do. Sam's Josh Hudgens and

(26:37):
Jake lenz Chow. They do bringback Zach Schmidt, who is another top
five player to watch for me.Really talented junior guard. I always have
to stop myself because he started asa freshman and he's just always been kind
of like the freshman in my head, so I got I gotta just catch
up with it. But a reallygood shooter, very athletic, he runs
across country, so you know,you just got a lot to speed an

(27:00):
endurance. Um, So looking forwardto seeing them. I don't know if
you have anything to add on Burlington, Yeah, you know, they did
really well in their first year.Last year in that league, I think
they were top you know, maybetop three maybe in the league. And
and so they had a lot ofsuccess even going up to that you know,
uh, that that tough league thatwas there with the carry grows and

(27:21):
of the world, and and youknow, they have graduated a lot of
good players. But program like that, I mean the way they've been,
they've had success so last several years. I look forward into Comminie to go
with with with a kid like umZack Schmid, and they also bring back
real quickly, sorry to cut off, they also bring back Kevin Sarvice and
Carson Siler as well, so somenice shooting, some depth for them.

(27:42):
Yeah. Yeah, Before we goonto the others, uh some of the
other schools, just people know theDuke Kane Conference. Um, I think
there are some teams are gonna havesome non conference games in the next week,
but their conference season starts on thethirteenth of February. For people that
are sort of wandering, hey whenare they gonna start playing? So they're
gonna be playing a lot of Saturday'sSunday games and then like one midweek game.

(28:07):
I think one of the like thegirls play on one night Tuesday or
Wednesday, the boys on the other. But that's sort of what their schedules
look gonna look like. Where Ithink there's gonna on a on the weekends.
It's gonna be like the girls aregonna plays, say at two o'clock,
and then the boys are gonna playlater on the day after they can
clear out the gym and clean everything. So that's sort of how that schedule

(28:27):
A little kind of programming. Notesaid it started FYI, But but Kaitlin
a team the last year, Umunder why I'd drown up like Ernie Colone.
Yes, it was. It washis first season as head coach.
Um, they bring back Jamari Meeks. What do you know about them?

(28:47):
Yeah, I mean Jamari was definitelycomes to mind. He was really talented.
He caught my eye a number ofdifferent times when I got to see
them play. Um, I thinkhe's only going to improve offensively, I
remember he was he was pretty strongdefensively, probably a little left to be
desired, but um, so youknow, hopefully you can kind of see
some improvement there. Porter Conroy alsocoming back. He's got some size.
Who's a good rebounder for them,So I think they'll be competitive. You

(29:11):
know, the Interstate eight is youknow, it's it's a tough league.
Um, I think they'll be competitive. I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing them
a number of different times. Areour friends over into calb with Eddie,
you know, we kind of sharecoverage with them, so m you know,
I'm sure we'll be splitting games.Yeah. An Interstate eight conference starts
their conference portion of schedule on Tuesdayat February ninth. Canlan's gonna be playing

(29:34):
Plano, who won the league lastyear. They did graduate a fair amount
of players from last year's team,but but that's sort of how and I
think that league they're playing two orthree games a week starting on February ninth.
In a way they're gonna do theiruh schedule shakedown is that say,
if Canlan boys are playing at Plano, then the girls varsity game would be

(30:00):
at the other place on the samenight. So that's again every league is
doing it differently. That's the waythe Interstate is doing it. Um.
Before we move on to some ofthe other areas that I cover, UH,
Saint Francis, they had a reallygood year last year, Um,
they had. They had a memorableplayoff game with Burmington Central where if we
wasn't it Sebastian Miller that the gamewinning shot. Um, he's coming back.

(30:23):
They did graduate the one is itnot sick or not not chick Rob?
Yeah, yeah, they did graduatehim, but they do bring back
some good players, including Sebastian Miller. Brendon Russo was one. Um,
I remember he was. He waskind of a quiet player in the sense
of like he just kind of didlike nice things, Like it wasn't flashy,

(30:45):
you know, it wasn't I don'tknow, it wasn't glitz and glam,
but like he just played well,you know it just kind of slid
and did his job and win,sat in the bench and you know,
just played. So. Um,I think he'll be a nice piece for
them. I know, a coupleof newcomers for them, Jack brenn In
Um, you know, so we'llsee, you know, because some of
these guys, like you know,they just didn't get his varsity experience.

(31:07):
So but Sebastian's obviously the headline arereally good offensive talent um, and he'll
probably be their lead dog. Yeah, yeah, yeah, no doubt,
especially after the way you finished lastseason with that, you know, the
game against Bronton Central. Yeah,second regional in what three years? So
yeah, no, that was thatwas a great win for them. I
think it wasn't an un browned Centralisthome court. It was not mistaken.

(31:29):
It was Sorry to bring up badmemory, but it was a great game.
I loved it as a writer.Great game. Yeah, yeah,
yeah. Um, well, letlet me maybe talk about some teams in
the Kennal County and Bege County area. Um, my first game tonight,
I'm going to Yorkville Christian. They'replaying Sandwiched. Um, Yorkville Christian.
If you haven't heard of the nameJaden Shot, get to know him.

(31:52):
Um he is what's his name,Josh. I don't think i've heard it
before, Jayden Shut Yeah right.Um. He is a six foot five.
I think he's good cloaks to sixfoot six, you know, kind
of a shooting guard type. Youknow, he's been compared to like a
JJ Reddick type player with a littlebit more size. Maybe. Um,

(32:12):
he is a player. He hada great year last year. He's actually
had a great couple of years already. He's a junior now. Last year
he said I just say single gamerecord was seventeen three pointers in the game,
so he could shoot. Um whatwhat he had? He had quite
an offseason recruiting wise. He's upthirteen scholarship offers. Michigan State has offered

(32:34):
him in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Mayama, Modern, Marquette, Crayton.
So um, He's a second rankedjunior in Illinois behind ajkse Whitney Young.
But he is a He's gonna bea fun guy to watch and the
best part about him is he's ajunior, so he's still got two more
years. But I asked a lotof different people like, wow, he's

(32:57):
got to be the most highly recruitedplayer in Kenno County history, because I
mean it's not like Chicago or something. There's good teams down there, but
it's not like tom Isla knocks onevery door down there, and and everybody's
like, yeah, I'm pretty surehe is. So so Yorksville Christian and
Jade and Shott is definitely a teamto watch this year, and again I'm
going to be seeing them tonight.Oswego East team that's had a lot of

(33:21):
success the last few years. RayJ Dennis is now at Boise State.
It's doing some great things there.Sam Schultz graduated off of last year's team,
but they're still gonna be pretty good. They're they're sophomore team last year
went undefeated, and so, youknow, I kind of looking at him
like, Wow, why aren't someof these guys playing in a varsity level
if they're that good of a team. But they did have a good varsity

(33:42):
team, so maybe they wanted tokind of keep that that group of guys
together. But when you have anundefeated sophomore team, you must be doing
something right. So I think they'regonna be a good team this year.
And another guy that's really you know, sort of what they stay blow up
recruiting wise, Braden Huff from glenbarbWest. He's a kids sort of like
a stretch for type player. He'snow I think six foot ten with shoes

(34:07):
on, and I kind of jokedwith him, I said, you know,
well, when you play basketball,you weren't shoes, so you might
as well give yourself that extra halfinch or whatever. So he's six foot
ten. He had a really goodyear for him last year and his recruiting
really took off in the offseason.Wisconsin offeringam north Western Crayton, so he's
gonna be a really fun guy towatch. And they pretty they bring back

(34:29):
pretty much everybody. They have areally good junior class, like three or
four guys. They have another player, Kayden Pierce, who's got offered by
USC, So they're gonna be afund to give to watch in this sort
of like abbreviated shortened season, maybesetting up to a really good year last
or next year when they're gonna geta hopefully a chance to compete in playoffs.
So those are a few of theteams and I'm looking forward to seeing

(34:51):
absolutely and Josh Is we kind ofwrap up here a couple you know,
little notes for people. The bestway to you know, follow this season
and is to subscribe. We kindlyask people to consider subscribing this season because
we're going to be covering as muchas we can and the best way for
us to do that is with support. In terms of what you get,

(35:12):
you get your full access to allthe different shot markets, Friday night drive.
Oh my gosh, before we knowit's going to be football, what
day is it like forty seven daysfor football? So yeah, so you're
gonna be March nineteenth is gonna comehere pretty pretty quick. Yeah, I've
already stocked up on handwarmers and allthose things. But kindly ask people to
consider subscribing. Um, follow KaneCounty Preps on Twitter, Follow myself Jake

(35:36):
bartleson j WELG ninety six because that'sgoing to be where all the action is.
Um, I'm going to be gluedto Twitter because I was thinking about
this in my gosh, with thecancelations and different things like, I bet
Twitter is going to be a hugething, you know, more so than
usual in terms of everything. Sojust make sure you're glued into what we're
doing. Yes, definitely, Andwe for those that our racist ribe a

(35:58):
support as we certainly thank you whenwe as other people to do so as
well. I mean for all theirbasketball coverage for all the other sports is
going on for football when it starts, I mean for baseball, I mean
it's going to be a pretty prettyaction pack four and a half months.
And um, just to do aquick plug, I mean, if you
subscribe to say the King kind ofchronicle, then you're subscribing to everywhere.

(36:19):
I mean you can read if ifyou if you're at Saint Charles fan that
wants to know, Hey, tellme more about this Jaden shut guy.
I mean you can read about himif you, if you, if you
subscribe, and then Friday Night Driveand then hey, you know, if
your kid is in is a basketballplayer, well he's probably also a student
and hope. By the way,there's a lot of things going on in
schools right now. Uh so,uh, you know, sort of a

(36:39):
shameless plug, but really, wethank you for We thank everyone for their
support, and we encourage others todo so as well. Yeah, I
very much am looking forward to goingto a basketball game and not watching a
school board meeting at least for alittle while. That's my personal thing.
I definitely look forward to that aswell. Yeah, awesome, Well that'll
do it for us folks this weekweeks. Thanks for tuning in. We're

(37:00):
probably do this weekly, right,Josh. I mean I would think.
I don't see any reason why notto. I'm definitely eager to talk sports
absolutely so, basketball notebooks weekly,hopefully stat leaders, different things. We'll
be coming down the pipe here andit'll be football season before we know it.
So thanks for making us a partyour afternoon, and we'll see you again.