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Scouting St. Edward Green Wave

St. Edward Green Wave

Last year: 20-8, 7-3 Suburban Christian Gold (third)

Coach: P.J. White, fourth season (40-46)

Top returnees: seniors Conall Brannon (6-4, C), John Butzow (6-0, G), Mike Butzow (6-0, G), Logan Danner (6-4, C), DaVontae Elam (5-10, G), Ryan Matthews (6-3, F), Austin Murray (6-0, F); juniors Nick Duffy (6-4, F), Danny Favela (6-3, F)

Top newcomers: juniors Gino Domel (5-6, G), Joe French (5-10, G), Santos Gomez (5-7, G), Matt Hesch (6-0, F), Bryan O’Neil (6-0, F), Devin Warner (5-11, G), Nathanial Hall (5-11, G), Brandon Ostrander (6-3, C)

Outlook: Look for another solid season from the Green Wave, whose 20 wins last season matched the total of their three previous seasons combined. St. Edward returns a combination of post talent and perimeter threats. Leading the way in the paint are juniors Luke Duffy and Danny Favela, football players who helped St. Edward to a playoff appearance this fall. Duffy averaged 11 points and 5.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore. He scored 98 of his 306 points at the free-throw line. Favela contributed 7 ppg and 4.7 rpg. Another key player is senior guard DaVontae Elam, the Elgin school’s all-time leading rusher on the gridiron. The 5-11, 180-pound senior averaged 10 points and 2.9 rebounds per game as a junior. Also returning is guard John Butzow, who averaged 6 points and 2 assists. White said this team goes 10 to 12 players deep. Seniors who didn’t play much last year like guards Austin Murray and forwards Logan Danner and Ryan Matthews are fighting for the final spot in the staring five, though White intends to play them all. The seniors are being pushed by juniors like Joe French, Matt Hesch, Bryan O’Neill, Gino Domel and Nathanial Hall, the latter a transfer from Sycamore. The 17-player roster is comprised solely of upperclassmen. “We’re deep all the way around so if we get in foul trouble with the new rules, we won’t see much drop off,” White said. “We have a team now that can slow it down and play a half-court game or press and release on the fast break. We can mix it up. We’re going to have some fun. There are a lot of good things going on at St. Ed’s. We have players buying into the system and dedicated parents who are behind us 100 percent. Add it all up and it should make for a pretty good year.”

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