: St. Viator's backcourt to feature D-I aces

The backcourt for St. Viator's boys basketball team this winter is A-1.

Or at least D-I.

With Jeremiah Hernandez' recent verbal commitment to Kent State, the Lions now have a pair of Division 1-bound guards. He joins Trey Calvin, who committed to Wright State a few weeks ago.

Hernandez, of Palatine, and Calvin, of Glendale Heights, enjoyed all-area seasons as juniors for coach Quin Hayes.

Their commitment to major programs was no surprise to Hayes.

" I definitely saw the potential in both Jerry and Trey to be D-1 players," he said. "It really depended on how hard they were going to work, and how bad they each wanted it.

"Clearly, they both worked wanted to play at that level. Evidence verifies that through years of pushing themselves to be the best."

Hernandez was named co-MVP of East Suburban Catholic last season while helping to lead the Lions to the East Suburban Conference title.

He averaged 15 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.7 steals this past season and played for Puerto Rico's U-17 team in the World Championships last summer.

"Jeremiah is an excellent all-around basketball player," Hayes said. "He can pass, shoot, defend, and play all five positions for us. His basketball IQ is off the charts. He is one of, if not the smartest player I have had the privilege to coach."

Calvin moved up from the sophomore team last season and became one of biggest stars in the area.

He averaged 16 points, 3 assists, 5 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 44 percent from outside the arc.

"Trey is also extremely smart," Hayes said. " He is one of the smoothest players in the state and understands how to play the game at different speeds.

"He is becoming a very good defender and he is one of, if not the best pure shooter I have had the privilege to coach. "

Hayes, no doubt, is looking forward to the seniors years of Hernandez and Calvin.

"I expect them to have fantastic senior years on and off the court," he said. "Now that they both have the pressure of their college choices behind them, they can relax and focus on all that they want to accomplish here at St. Viator."

He thinks they've found ideal schools to continue their basketball careers.

"I think Kent State and Wright State are perfect choices for these two," added. "The relationships that those two schools built over the last two years was ultimately why they chose those schools. I see both of them being very successful and instrumental pieces to those programs at the next level."