This class of sophomores looks positively super
At this time of year, the focus naturally shifts to the seniors.
Senior Nights were celebrated in the waning days of the regular season, and the Class of 2009 started playing its final games with the start of last week's Class 1A and 2A boys basketball playoffs.
As much as we rightfully honor the seniors, though, it's hard not to think about the tremendous number of super sophomores. The Class of 2011 in DuPage County is shaping up to be amazing.
Take a glance at this year's DuPage All-Area Basketball Team and you'll see three mighty talented sophomores - Glenbard East's Zach Miller, Wheaton Warrenville South's Reilly O'Toole and Benet's Dave Sobolewski.
That's just the beginning.
The DuPage Valley Conference alone was a hotbed of sophomore talent this season. Six of the eight teams had at least one and as many as three making significant contributions at the varsity level.
Glenbard East's Johnny Hill and Glenbard North's Alex Smith both started this season. Wheaton North's Mike Fitzpatrick, Jeff Schalk and Richard Finley all logged a bunch of minutes. West Aurora, which actually started a freshman in Juwan Starks, played sophomore Kyle Pilmer.
Naperville North's sophomore class may be the most intriguing. Jovonn Griffin and Matt LaCosse both were critical in the team's late-season surge. The Huskies went unbeaten in their last five regular-season games - a streak that began with the varsity debut of LaCosse, who immediately started posting double-doubles with unbounded energy on the court.
The area talent in the Class of 2011 is deep, too. Even though Naperville North brought up those two players, the Huskies still won the DVC title at the sophomore level. Benet, which had Pat Flavin up on varsity in addition to Sobolewski, dominated the sophomore level with a 13-1 East Suburban Catholic Conference record and suffered only two losses overall.
Everywhere you looked, sophomores made hefty contributions this season.
York's Will Sullivan was named the Daily Herald's Player of the Week last week. Immaculate Conception's Demitrius Mobley, Lisle's Chris Wray and Timothy Christian's Mark Penczak all started. Hinsdale South's Joe Petrak and Jason Viane, Addison Trail's Tyler Horvath, Waubonsie Valley's Mark Szott ... the list goes on and on.
What's happening in DuPage County with the Class of 2011 reflects what's going on throughout the state. East Aurora's Ryan Boatright is among the state's top sophomores while Wayne Blackshear, a recent transfer from Curie to Morgan Park, De La Salle's Mike Shaw and Mt. Carmel's Tracy Abrams help form a sophomore class many believe to be among Illinois' best in the last 30 years.
None of DuPage County's sophomores rate among the state's very best ... yet. A lot can change over the next two years as players slide up and down the rankings ladder.
Some players, like WW South's O'Toole and Naperville North's LaCosse, also belong on the list of top sophomore football players. It'll be fun to watch their progression in each sport.
In fact it'll be fun to watch all the area sophomores develop over the next two years. Before long they'll be celebrating their own Senior Nights.
And we'll already be talking about the Class of 2013.
kschmit@dailyherald.com