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Scouting: Kaneland

Kaneland Knights

Coach: Joe Conroy (1st year)

Conference: Northern Illinois Big XII East

2014-15 record: 14-16

Top returning players: Ryan David (Sr., 6-4, G/F), Dylan Vaca (Sr., 6-1, G/F), Mark Lilly (Sr., 5-7, G), Jake Gomes (Sr., 6-5, C)

Top newcomers: Ethan Conroy (Sr., 5-10, G)

Season outlook: Conroy begins his first year with the Knights taking over for Brian Johnson, who is the new head coach at West Aurora. Johnson guided the Knights for seven years, going 99-68. Conroy brings plenty of experience, most recently as the director/coach of the DC Hoops AAU program. His background also includes stints as NIU women's associate head coach, Woodstock and Woodstock North varsity boys coach, UW-Milwaukee women's assistant coach, and Eastern Illinois women's assistant coach. Conroy has a good group of seniors to work with in his debut season. David averaged 13 points last year on 42 percent shooting from the field and 73 percent at the line while also grabbing 6.7 rebounds a game. Vaca has great range and averaged 12 points a game as a junior. Lilly can hurt teams on either end, averaging 1.5 steals and 5 points a game. Gomes gives Kaneland size inside; he pulled down 5 rebounds a game as a junior. Ethan Conroy, one of the coach's two sons on the roster along with Mason, is a transfer from DeKalb who shot 33 percent from 3-point range last year while posting 5 points and a 1-1 assist to turnover ratio for a really good Barbs team. "We return a strong group of experienced players," coach Joe Conroy said. "Our senior-laden team is looking to make the most of their chances in both the nonconference and the Northern Illinois Big XII Conference. We would like to play an up-tempo game offensively and man-to-man pressure on defense."

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