Scouting Dundee-Crown Chargers

Dundee-Crown Chargers

Last year: 19-9, 9-3 Fox Valley Valley (second)

Coach: Lance Huber, 11th season (153-124)

Top returnees: seniors Zach Pochop (5-8, G), Nick Munson (6-4, F), Cordero Parson (5-9, 185), Connor Steinmetz (6-4, F)

Top newcomers: juniors Alex Barker (6-2, G), Sam Buckley (5-11, G), Malik Dunner (5-11, G), Kiwuan Seals (6-1, F), Juwan Stewart (6-4, F)

Outlook: Unlike the past three seasons when the Chargers could count on proven scorers like Brandon Rodriguez and Dylan Kissack, this team’s prospects are clouded with uncertainty due to inexperience. Senior guard Cordero Parson is the most experienced returning player by a wide margin. He started just 4 games as a junior yet averaged 5.3 points and 2 assists per game and shot 9 of 21 from 3-point range. D-C needs Parson to stay on the court and become a primary scoring threat as a senior. Beyond him, the Chargers are unproven at every position. Guard Zach Pochop is a steady ballhandler who appeared in 17 of D-C’s 27 games last season and sank 3 of 7 attempted 3-pointers. Senior forwards Connor Steinmetz and Nick Munson appeared in 14 games combined last season. They will step into primary roles in the post. Munson has shown a decent scoring touch, according to coach Lance Huber. Fundamentally sound junior guard Sam Buckley will likely crack the starting lineup. His now-graduated brother, Jack, started 26 games last season. The lineup gets a lift from transfer Malik Dunner, who played varsity basketball at Elgin last season. He rested for a week after the football season ended to let an ankle injury heal. Dunner’s contributions are expected to increase as the season progresses. He and fellow junior Kiwuan Seals, also a football player, are among the top athletes in the Fox Valley Conference, though basketball is neither player’s primary sport. Huber said lanky 6-4 junior Juwan Stewart could potentially develop into a solid contributor as he adjusts to the physical nature of varsity basketball in the FVC. The Chargers hope to use next week’s Sycamore Strombom Thanksgiving Tournament to iron out the kinks. “We’re still in the process of piecing things together,” Huber said Wednesday. “This year could be interesting. I hope we have a lot of heart and determination or we’re in a lot of trouble. Since we don’t have one or two guys who have really proven it yet, we need to be a group that has a special bond that relies on one another. We have to do it together with teamwork.”