This won’t be the same Homewood-Flossmoor boys basketball team that won the Class 4A state championship last winter. Many of the key pieces are gone.
Bryce Howard, the blue chip player who everybody knew, graduated early and now plays for NC State. Gianni Cobb is in New York playing at Columbia. Carson Brownfield and Mac Hagemaster are at Lewis University.
Nobody told the Vikings, though. Ask around practice and they’ll say this team is even better.
The season opens Nov. 25 with the Chicago Heights Classic.
“I think the guys that we have are ready to step up and contribute right away. I’m excited about how we look,” coach Jamere Dismukes said. “I’ve been excited since the fall, since we’ve been doing conditioning and lifting. I just think we’ve got a really good group.”
Dismukes said he talks to the team about embracing the target that was placed on their backs last March. The players are taking that to heart and say it’s paying off.
“I feel like we working harder (than last year),” senior point guard JD Tyler said. “We’re going at each other every day, making sure we’re getting better. We get along, we’re gelling as a team.”
It’s not just hard work and chemistry, though. The Vikings believe they’re actually more skilled, more athletic and better shooters than they were a year ago.
“(Last season’s team) would probably beat us, skill-wise, but I feel like running up and down the floor we got them,” senior Ethan Howard said. “Defenses will definitely have to close out and run us off the line because we’ll definitely be a great 3-point shooting team.”
To that end comes Thornwood transfer Arden Eaves, who the Vikings believe is one of the best shooters in the state. Brent Taylor, another shooter, also transferred in from Lincoln-Way East. They’re both big and athletic, which adds another dynamic.
Dismukes changes his offensive emphases annually based on what kind of personnel he has. He offered a sly smile when asked about how shots like transition 3-pointers may fit into his plan.
“Run fast. Play hard. Shoot a lot of threes,” Dismukes said. “I think adding shooting, speed, size, versatility (with Taylor and Eaves) opens up the floor for everybody.”
Some returners will fill different niches.
Tyler may look for his own shot a little more. As a junior, the Wofford commit was the third or fourth scoring option. He’ll be higher on the food chain this season.
“I’m being more aggressive. I’ll be looking for more shots but I’m also still going to get my team involved at the same time,” he said. “I’ll be looking for my shots but not forcing it.”
The one thing last year’s team had that this one won’t is size. The roster has several players in the 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-6 range, but none taller. That means everyone will have to rebound, even the guards, and perimeter defense will take on a new significance.
It’ll be important to keep the ball out of the paint.
“Everybody on the floor has to rebound,” Howard said. “On defense, I think we’re quick enough to get steals and force opponents to give us the ball.”
The returning upperclassmen saw what it takes to win a state championship. They know what it looks like, not just in games but in practices, the weight room and team meetings. Dismukes said, if anything, he’s harder on this team than he was on the last one.
“I’m even more intense with my coaches. I’m on my coaches hard about every little thing now,” Dismukes said. “I think if we’re great, the kids are great. I’m trying to push everybody to their limits, including myself.”
The returners say they’re pushing that message to the guys who weren’t around last year, too. Tyler took freshman point guard Darius Hawkins, specifically, under his wing.
“(We tell them to) take everything serious. The touches, the drills, the skill work, everything,” senior Aiden Derose said. “No matter what we do, take everything serious.”
One thing last season taught them was the importance of finding and playing roles. Everybody has a job and needs to do it well if the team is going to be successful.
“Last year, I didn’t really play that much but this year I’ve got to be a shooter, be a great defender and just help my team win,” Derose said. “I want to be that guy, if I have to. In certain games, not everybody is going to be hitting.”
If everyone does what they’re asked, the rest will take care of itself, Dismukes said.
“Success for me is getting these kids to college. If I can get all of my seniors a scholarship somewhere, we’re going to win games,” he said. “If you can get college athletes to play high school basketball the right way, winning games comes.”
