One bounceback year has Shepard boys basketball looking to continue its upward mobility.
The Astros had a five-win improvement and won a postseason game in coach Corey Wolf’s debut season.
Prospects are good for more improvement with four regulars back from that 14-19 team. The only graduation loss from the starting five was a big one: all-conference center Jovan Thomas.
But Shepard also gets back Peter Primbas, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
Even a season-ending loss to Homewood-Flossmoor had a silver lining.
“We ended up beating Stagg in the first round (of the playoffs), then ended up playing H-F,” Wolf said. “We could have played better. But I think it was good to see it and be in that game, and see what it looks like.
“We thought we put together some good things last year, and we’re looking to keep moving forward.”
The seniors set to lead a roster of younger players include Primbas, Aaron Arrambide, Aurion Lee-Barnes, Billy Massey and Danny McGovern.
“I think we are going to be one of the more athletic Shepard teams in a while,” Wolf said. “Lee-Barnes is taking some big steps, and Arrambide is really bouncy right now — the best I’ve seen him this summer. They all are putting in the work.”
Shepard got out of their summer camp comfort zones a bit and played in seven different June events including Stagg’s Ray Milnes Summer Shootout.
“It’s been great,” Wolf said. “It’s good to come in with the guys that know what we’re doing, and keeping that expectation and building on what we did last year.”
On social media, they use the hashtag #BeConsistent — a message Wolf is trying to instill in his players as they head into next season.
“This whole group is doing a very good job of being committed to being better and pushing the program forward,” Wolf said.
While the Astros do have a bit of senior leadership heading into the next season, their best player might just be rising sophomore Amari Williams.
“He’s a great kid,” Wolf said. “The next step for him is getting stronger and a little … meaner with his mentality. Sometimes you have to be a little more mean.”
Wolf has all the faith in Williams to be great and wants to teach him the game while not pigeon-holing him.
“I do not want to limit his game to being just a big, but I think he’s talented enough to be able to be a wing at the college level,” Wolf said. “So ball-handling for him is important, and to continue to work on his jump shot.”
The combination of returning seniors, Williams and other young talent, and gaining experience from the playoffs and summer is something Wolf believes sets his teams to have a competitive season come November.
“We’re looking to not be in a play-in game (next year),” Wolf said. “Instead, we want to be in that game on Tuesday and then be in that regional (title) game.”