Cyclone men's basketball has a solid mix of players on the roster all ready and willing to go far in their 2021-22 season.
This year, the Cyclones will have a more normal schedule than their brief 2021 spring stint that didn't count toward their record. With that in mind, they are coming into this season with a positive outlook and excitement to be playing again.
"They're excited to get that real college basketball experience. Because a normal season was taken away last year, they're appreciative just to play. It's already winning just to practice and compete," said Head Coach John Chappetto, who enters his third season leading the program.
When looking at the roster, Chappetto says they have a little bit of everything from the third-year experienced players and transfers to young, talented newcomers and guys who can play multiple positions well. Developing their point guards is key to what they want to do as a team. One player who should fit that bill is freshman Anthony Taylor, a 6-3 guard from Richards, who can do just about everything on the court.
The experienced athletes include a few transfers and third-years who should make an impact. Trevon Jones (Richards), Nathan Purcell (Lincoln-Way Central), Jevon Lurry (Joliet West) and Jalen Levy (Rich East) are a few of the top players returning for a third season as allowed by the NJCAA. Sophomore Kobe Adams (Oswego) gained valuable experience in the spring season and is a talented scorer. Jace Lee (Rich Central) and Trace Williams (Homewood-Flossmoor) also are sophomores who have already stepped up their game in preseason scrimmages. Transfer guard Isiah Burd (Bolingbrook) is bringing some strong skills to the team.
The biggest unknown for the Cyclones is how good the other teams are in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference as well as Region IV. The goal for the first half of the season is to make big improvements and build strength for the ultimate goal in the spring — a conference championship and shot to compete at nationals. Before then, the coaches are trying new tactics to keep players healthy and eligible throughout the winter. The players see what they're up against and know their chances could come.
"We're cautiously optimistic that we'll have a season and about how we'll do. We're optimistic about the guys we have," Chappetto said. "This group seems to get along well; they're excited to be part of the program. So far, so good."
Chappetto is joined again on the bench by assistants Aaron Green and Kyle Huppe.
The Cyclones' season and home opener are on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 5 p.m., against Kankakee Community College. All home games will be livestreamed to Cyclone Athletics YouTube, but masked spectators are allowed this season.