Looking ahead

Well, I’ve finally had a chance to catch my breath from that recruiting flurry. It was amazing watching that process play out. Once Sean Johnson committed on Easter Sunday, everything just seemed to fall in place over the course of the next 30 days.

Before I go on, I should mention that two previously “unannounced” student-athletes have decided to attend Illinois Wesleyan and play basketball…

Michael Kempf, 5-11 PG (Hersey H.S.)
Mitch Malone, 6-2 SG (Abingdon H.S.)

Welcome to Michael and Mitch. I remember meeting Michael and his family on his visit and hoping he’d end up at IWU. A great student, he was very seriously considering Kenyon College in Ohio. I’m looking forward to meeting Mitch when he gets to campus.

What a class put together by Ron Rose and staff. This group is talented and deep and it should get Illinois Wesleyan back in the CCIW contention picture sooner than later. The best thing about the quality of this class is that is creates competition at all five positions, something that, quite frankly, was lacking this past season. Literally every single player that shows up for basketball in the fall will have to work his tail off to earn a spot in the varsity rotation…and that’s a common theme of every great IWU team I’ve ever seen.

So let’s take a very early look at the depth chart heading into the 2007-08. I’ve slotted every player into the position I think they have the best chance to play at and listed alphabetically.

1
Justin Anthony, 5-10 (So.)
Sean Dwyer, 5-11 (So.)
Michael Kempf, 5-11 (Fr.)
Travis Rosenkranz, 5-11 (Fr.)

2
Kevin Bryant, 6-2 (Sr.)
Andrew Gilmore, 6-3 (Jr.)
Anthony Gunnell, 6-2 (Jr.)
Sean Johnson, 6-1 (Fr.)
Mitch Malone, 6-2 (Fr.)
Jordan Morris, 6-3 (Jr.)
Chris Stamas, 6-2 (Fr.)

3
Jason Bloom, 6-5 (Sr.)
Duncan Lawson, 6-8 (Fr.)
Matt Schick, 6-4 (Fr.)
Elias Washington, 6-2 (So.)

4/5
Brett Chamernik, 6-5 (Jr.)
Darius Gant, 6-4 (Sr.)
Brian Nussbaum, 6-6 (Sr.)
Edmond O’Callaghan, 6-7 (Fr.)
Dan Schouten, 6-5 (Fr.)
Doug Sexauer, 6-7 (Fr.)
Josh Sutton, 6-5 (Fr.)
Matt Wittig, 6-4 (So.)


Somewhere in there is the 2007-08 Illinois Wesleyan varsity and J.V. rotations. Hard work over the summer will go a long way to determining how this plays out.

6-6 Lockport center Doug Sexauer commits to IWU

IWUhoops.com has learned that Ron Rose received a verbal committment yesterday from all-stater Doug Sexauer, a 6-6/200 center from Lockport. Sexauer - in a Herald News picture right (#34) with teammates Bruce Durham and Brian Bradley - averaged 12.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg, shooting .546 from the field, on a Lockport team that made it to Peoria. Sexauer, Bradley, and Durham were named tri-MVP's on The Herald News Class AA All-Area team.

Sexauer was the Porters' leading scorer in the 3-point loss to O'Fallon in the state quarterfinal game in Peoria, finishing with 14 points. He is the 3rd member of the IBCA Class AA 3rd Team all-state to commit to IWU, joining Sean Johnson and Matt Schick (his first name in incorrectly listed as "Kevin"). Sexauer was originally tabbed as one of 7 alternates to the Class AA North team for the IBCA all-star game. When "Mr. Basketball" Derrick Rose backed out of the event, Doug was the first alternate to get the call. IWU will now have 3 recruits in that game -- Sexauer on the North and Johnson and Schick on the South roster. (Travis Rosenkranz will play for the Class A South.)

Doug is a very polished back-to-the-basket player. Being left handed and with his post game, he reminds me a little of former Titan Seth Hubbard ('03), who averaged 12.2 ppg his senior year playing down low alongside Luke Kasten. Doug is a good 1-2 inches taller than Seth though. In addition to being very good around the hoop, Sexauer can step out and make a 15 foot jumpshot or a 3-pointer. He can play the 4 or the 5 positions.

Sexauer, who scored 30 on his ACT, was pursued hard by Augustana and Wash U in the early going. He picked up a full scholarship to NAIA St. Xavier after his state tournament appearance and already had a ride from NAIA St. Francis. His ultimate decision came down to the two CCIW schools though, and the IWU and Augustana staffs both pursued very aggressively these last two weeks as he neared a decision. Doug should be a real good CCIW player -- I suspect his best basketball is in front of him.

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"From potential to jackpot" (The Herald News)

6-5 Dan Schouten chooses Illinois Wesleyan

Downers Grove South's Dan Schouten has decided to attend IWU and play basketball for Ron Rose. Schouten had a big senior year for the Mustangs, averaging 17.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg. He was named to the All-West Suburban Gold team for the second consecutive season and made the prestigious Daily Herald All-Area team.


Schouten led Downers Grove South to a 17-10 overall record and 9-3 in the conference, good for 2nd place.

At 6-5, Schouten is a "do it all" type player with great range from the perimeter as well as an inside game that he worked on very hard as a senior. He is also a standout in the classroom -- 3.9 GPA and a 29 ACT.

Schouten is an impressive addition to an amazing recruiting class.

(Chicagohoops.com mention)

Glenbrook North standout Chris Stamas will be a Titan

Chris Stamas had the unenviable task of replacing 2006-07 Illinois "Mr. Basketball" award winner Jon Scheyer (who started for Duke this year as a freshman) on his Glenbrook North team this year. The 6-2 shooter responded, leading his squad to an 18-8 season and a Central Suburban North title. Stamas's 18.4 ppg led the way for the Spartans' 9-1 conference campaign.

The January 29 issue of ILL Hoops that includes a feature story on fellow IWU recruit Sean Johnson also includes a nice article on Stamas (pp 14-17) entitled, "The New Leader of the Spartans."

Stamas played for coach Dave Weber, brother of U. of Illinois head coach Bruce Weber. Of Stamas, his high school coach told ILL Hoops, "I haven't seen everyone in the state, but to me I haven't seen a pure shooter like him around. Chris can shoot it."

Stamas opened eyes at Glenbrook North as a junior. Getting his first start at the Proviso West tournament for a sick Jon Scheyer, Stamas made 10 3-pointers and finished with 34 points.

Stamas earned "Special Mention" all-state honors on the IBCA Class AA team.

Chris will be a good, solid player at Illinois Wesleyan.

6-5 Lincoln forward Josh Sutton will attend IWU

Ron Rose received a verbal commitment this week from 6-5/200 forward Josh Sutton from Lincoln. Sutton was a teammate of IWU recruit Matt Schick on the Railsplitters team that made it to Peoria.

Sutton averaged 8.6 ppg, shooting .538 from the field (112-208) and .394 from 3-point range (28-71). He was the leading rebounder on the 33-3 Lincoln squad and was the 3rd leading scorer behind all-staters Brandon Farmer and Matt Schick. Sutton scored 18 points in Lincoln's sectional championship win over Bloomington and also had a strong game in the supersectional title game, going 3-3 from beyond the arc vs Peoria Richwoods. He made "Special Mention" all-state on the IBCA Class AA squad alongside some very good players.

Sutton is still pretty raw but he has a really nice upside. He's 6-5, very athletic, and extremely "long" as coaches like to say. He has a huge wingspan and looks like a kid who may not be done growing. He also has very nice touch from the periemter, as evidenced by his success shooting the basketball at Lincoln.

What impresses me the most about Sutton is his attitude. He was recruited by a number of other Division III schools (Millikin being one). When he called Ron Rose to tell him he wanted to come to IWU, Ron told him that things had changed a bit since his visit 3 weeks ago -- that IWU had landed other forwards like Duncan Lawon, Ed O'Callaghan, Matt Schick, etc. He said something like, "Hey, life is all about competition."

Ron Rose may have found a hidden gem in Josh Sutton.

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"Late arrival earns spot with Railers" (Pantagraph)