By Chris Parker
Chadwick boys basketball has big goals this winter with four starters returning from last season’s 20-6 district championship team.
Leading the returning players is junior Clayton Garrison. Garrison earned all-state honors in Class 1 last season after he averaged 20.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.3 steals per game.
“I expect Clayton to keep expanding his game even more this season,” Chadwick head coach Shawn Guerin said. “He is an unbelievable athlete and understands the game so well. His mid-range game and ability to get to the rim make him very hard to guard. He led the team in nearly every statistical category last season as a sophomore. He can potentially be one of the best players in the area, in my opinion, regardless of class.”
Tristan Smith also returns for his junior year after averaging 8.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game last season.
“Tristan runs the show for us and is the motor of our team,” Guerin said. “He is explosive and fast on both ends of the court and a great athlete. He was second on the team a season ago in steals and assists. I expect his numbers to all jump up from a season ago.”
Seniors Grady Preston and Mason Rogers both averaged 5.5 points per game in their junior seasons.
“Grady will add much needed hustle and grit to this year’s team. He is a hard worker and plays his role extremely well. He has a nice shot from the outside and lead our team in 3 pointers made last season,” Guerin said. “Mason returns as another starter from last year’s team. He is one of those kids who shows very little emotion, he just goes out there and plays hard. He has developed into a solid defender and rebounder and I think he will continue that his senior year.”
CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO ALL OF THE WINTER PREVIEWS
Seth Combs (senior), Remington Daugherty (sophomore) and Connor Cantrell (sophomore) also return for Chadwick.
Guerin on Combs: “Seth is another returning senior for this year’s team. His junior season was cut short because of injury but he is now back and ready to go. He will bring some much-needed size to the team.”
Guerin on Daugherty: “Remi came off the bench and gave us valuable minutes last season on varsity. I expect him to increase that time as a sophomore and play with more confidence this year.”
Guerin on Cantrell: “Connor did not see a lot of action last year as a freshmen but returns for his sophomore campaign looking to get more playing time.”
Freshmen Creek Guerin and Preston Kinyon will look to make immediate varsity impacts.
Coach Guerin on Creek Guerin: “Creek comes in with good handles and a high basketball IQ. He has played his whole life and will definitely contribute on varsity right away.”
Coach Guerin on Kinyon: “Preston is the other upcoming freshman that will see big varsity minutes this season. He is long and athletic and will fit in to our system perfectly.”
Chadwick opened the season with a 66-36 win over Galena.
“I feel like this year’s team has the pieces to put together a run at the end of the year,” Guerin said. “We bring back four starters and have upperclassman experience to lead us and also a couple of freshmen that will help right away. As in years past, we want to compete at a high level and give ourselves a chance to win every night. We have been so close the last few years in postseason play, we just have to find a way to get over the hump. We have guys that work their tails off and I’m excited to see what they can accomplish.”
