By Chris Parker
Wheaton boys basketball had 19 wins last season, which was the most for the program since winning 23 games in the 2011-12 season.
This year’s team will have a different look with one full-time starter returning.
“I think we will be a very good team this season,” new head coach Josh Wiseman said. “The talent is there; we are just lacking experience. We will be playing a lot of freshmen and sophomores this season who just do not have a lot of experience at the varsity level. I am very excited to watch this team grow and see what they will become. As a first-year head coach with a lot of first-time varsity players there will be a learning curve, but I believe the pieces and talent is there for us to be a very good basketball team.”
Houston Roller is the lone returning starter. He averaged 8.5 points per game last season.
“Houston is our only returning starter from last year,” Wiseman said. “He will be the team captain this season and will be expected to fill an even bigger role as the four other starters from last year’s team have graduated.”
Brody Bateman came off the bench last season as a freshman and averaged 8.8 points per game.
“Brody was an important part of last year’s team coming off the bench,” Wiseman said. “He averaged 8.8 ppg and will be expected to step in and fill a starting role this season. We look forward to him taking a step forward this season in an expanded role.”
Sophomore Mitchell Shockley also got some varsity experience last season.
“Mitchell saw some time on varsity last season and is expected to be a presence in the post,” Wiseman said. “He should see significant minutes this season and help in the post.”
Yeschua Cha (sophomore guard), Andi Bui (sophomore guard), Amos Thawngzathang (freshman guard/forward), David Cunglianthwang (freshman guard), Cam Cartwright (senior forward), Joel Sherwood (senior center), Blake Fields (senior guard) and Jacob Bittle (senior forward) will be newcomers.
Wiseman on Cha: “Yeschua was planning on playing last year before an injury sidelined him for the season. He is expected to play significant minutes this year on varsity. He is a very talented and smart basketball player we expect big things from this season.”
Wiseman on Bui: “Andi played for our junior varsity last season and is expected to step into a varsity role this season. He is an intelligent player who should help up at the guard position this season.”
Wiseman on Thawngzathang: “Amos is an incoming freshman who can play in the post or guard. He is expected to compete for minutes at the varsity level, and we are excited to watch him develop over the next few seasons.”
Wiseman on Cunglianthwang: “David is an incoming freshman who is very athletic and should help at the varsity level on the offense and defensive end. He is very talented and we are excited to watch him develop his game.”
Wiseman on Cartwright: “Cam is a newcomer to the team as a senior. We are expecting him to help us in the post and on the defensive end of the court. He is a senior who has not played yet, but we think he can help us on the varsity level.”
Wiseman on Sherwood: “Joel is another senior who has joined our team. We are expecting him to help us in the post this season and contribute.”
Consistency will be a point of focus.
“The area we will need to improve the most this season is consistency,” Wiseman said. “As with most young teams, we will have to learn to be consistent. As the season progresses and the more experience the younger players get, I believe it will come with more game time.”
The young roster brings a level of athleticism that will help on the defensive end.
“I believe the biggest strength of our team this year will be on the defensive end,” Wiseman said. “We are very young and athletic and should be able to keep up with anyone. I only expect us to keep improving as the season goes and the younger players get more experience at the varsity level.”
Wheaton boys basketball opens the season Dec. 2-7 at the Dennis Cornish Classic at Lockwood.
“A successful season for us would be growth during the season and competing and being consistent on a nightly basis,” Wiseman said. “I think as the season goes along and the younger players get more experience at the varsity level, we will be a very good team. Losing four starters from last year’s team that finished second in districts will be hard to replace but we have good young athletes with a lot of potential who should be a very good overall team as the season progresses.”
