Complete Game Notes

    Since his arrival in 2006, Lewis University head men's basketball coach Scott Trost has turned the Flyer program into one of the most respected teams in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, as his teams have averaged 17 wins per season.
   While it's nice to be respected, Trost would like his team to fall under the category of 'feared'.
   The 2011-12 edition of the Flyers could pose that threat to their opponents, as the squad features six upperclassmen with 287 starts under their belt – many of those nods coming in what is widely considered the toughest conference in America.
   The most experienced of the bunch is senior Marty Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg). Strus, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound center, has started all 88 games that he has appeared in since his freshman year. In three seasons, Strus broke the Lewis career-record for blocks, as he owns 152 swats heading into his senior campaign. For his career, Strus is averaging 8.3 points and 6.6 rebounds-per-game.
   “Marty is the consumate team player with great defensive skills and a very good basketball IQ,” Trost said. “He has developed to his game a little 15-16 foot jump shot that he is getting more and more confidence in shooting.
   “I expect Marty to have an outstanding senior season.”
   Joining Strus in the frontcourt is 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward, Matt Toth (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg). Toth had a breakout year in 2010-11, as the Orland Park, Ill., native averaged 10.7 points and 4.8 rebounds-per-game. He also showed his ability away from the basket as he converted 60.0% of his three-point attempts.
   “Matt is very capable of being one of the dominant inside guys in our league, but he has to be consistent and play with an energy and passion all of the time,” Trost said. “He is one of the most skilled I have been around, but he has to do it on both ends of the floor.
   “If he does that, he is fully capable of being an all-conference player.”
   Redshirt senior forward Lonnie Lawrence (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) looks to end his career in style, as the Bloomington, Ill., native has battled injuries throughout his time on the Romeoville campus. You can be sure to find Lawrence cleaning up the glass, as he has averaged 5.2 rebounds in 80 career games at Lewis.
   “Lonnie has developed a little more confidence offensively shooting the ball from 15-to-16 feet,” Trost said. “He's an extra possession guy who is going to hustle, get extra possessions and rebound on the offensive end.”
   While Strus, Toth and Lawrence can be found in the post, senior sharpshooter Justin Jarosz (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport) can be found beyond the three-point arc. Jarosz, a 6-foot-6 wing, has knocked down 69 trifectas for the Flyers over the past two seasons.
   “He is a perimeter shooter and has been more aggressive this year,” Trost said of Jarosz. “He's capable of playing a couple positions for us and we're looking at him to play at a consistent level.”
   Rounding out the senior class is 6-foot-1 point guard Chris McClellan (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Wheeling). McClellan, an All-GLVC Third Team selection in 2010, is averaging 10.6 points-per-game and is shooting 43.7% from three-point range throughout his career. He is also a deadly free throw shooter, as he owns Lewis' career free throw percentage record, knocking down 89.3% (176-for-197) of his attempts.
   “Mac was an all-conference selection as a sophomore and look for him to get back to that level,” Trost said. “He plays with the leadership that I would expect out of a senior and I think he could be one of the better point guards in our league.”
   Trost knows that in order for his squad to be successful this season, the seniors will have to do a lion's share of the work.
“We are going to be as good as our seniors are,” Trost said. “What are they going to want their legacy to be?
   “Do they want it to be average or take the next step and make the NCAA Tournament?” Trost continued. “I have never had a group that has never been to the tournament and I certainly do not want this group to be the first.”
   The lone junior for the Flyers this year is David Bryant (Batavia, Ill./Batavia). Bryant, a 6-foot-4 guard/forward, is averaging 7.7 points-per-game and shooting 41.0% (71-for-143) from three-point range during his career.
   “David is shooting the ball extremely well,” Trost said. “He understands the game, knows how to play and is not afraid to take the big shot.
   “We are looking for David to have a very good season.”
   The only other returner for the Flyers is 6-foot-5 forward Mantas Dubauskas (Naperville, Ill./St. Joseph). Dubauskas appeared in 18 games off the bench for the Flyers as a freshman.
   “I thought (Mantas) did some good things for us in the fall,” Trost said. “He's a high energy guy and I look forward to see him competing and giving us some minutes at a couple spots.”  
   Dubauskas is not the only sophomore on the squad, as Division I transfer Nick Valla (Tinley Park, Ill./Marist) joins the team. Valla, a 6-foot-2 guard, spent his freshman season at Missouri State. He appeared in 15 games for a Bears team that advanced to the second-round of the NIT. As a prep, Valla left Marist as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,493 points and also set the single-game scoring record of 42 points.
   “(Nick is) a tough, hard nosed kid,” Trost said. “He shoots the ball well, knows how to play and does whatever you ask of him.
“He brings a lot of things to the table and great team player.”
   While Trost returns a lot of talent to the court, the Flyers will have to integrate the upperclassmen with the nine underclassmen on the roster, including seven freshmen.
   “It is an interesting dynamic because you have half of your squad that knows what they are doing and are familiar to how we do things and the other half is still learning,” Trost said. “This group of freshmen might be physically the most talented group I have had since I've been here.
   “I think they are going to be impact players in our league.”
   Ryan Jackson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Riverside-Brookfield), a 6-foot-2 combo guard, helped Riverside-Brookfield to the school's second-consecutive regional championship, 10th-straight conference title and its first-ever sectional win in 2011. He averaged 25 points-per-game and set the school's single-season scoring and career scoring records on his way to Honorable Mention All-State accolades from both the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune.   
   “Ryan has a great chance to be a great player in this league,” Trost said. “He doesn't fit the cookie-cutter mold, but he is someone that can really score the basketball.
   “He shoots it well, he gets to the rim and he's strong.”
   Jeff Jarosz (Lyons, Ill./Morton), a 6-foot-1 guard, averaged 22.1 points, 5.7 assists and 5.2 steals-per-game as a senior for Morton as a senior.
“Jeff also does not fit the cookie cutter mold, but he's got it,” Trost said.  “He's sneaky, quick and really good in the open court.”
   Julian Lewis (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor), a 6-foot-5 forward, averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Homewood-Flossmoor on his way to All-State Third Team honors, Southtown/Star All-Area accolades and Patch.com Athlete of the Year in 2011.  
   “(Julian) is a special player if he wants to be,” Trost said. “He's probably the most fluid of an athlete that we have had (since I've been here).
   “(Julian) does things that we have not seen before,” Trost continued. “He's bouncy, great rebounder, repetitive jumper and he shoots the mid-range ball well.
   David Niggins (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central), a 6-foot-6 forward, averaged 20 points and eight rebounds-per-game for Naperville Central in 2010-11 on his way to Naperville Sun and Daily Herald All-Area First Team accolades along with All-State Fourth Team honors.
   “(David) can shoot and he's a good athlete,” Trost said. “He is developing before our eyes and has a chance to be a really good player.
   “(He's) really a talented kid on the perimeter and has shown some good toughness,” Trost continued. “I am happy what he has done for us so far and happy he is part of our program.”
   Speedy Gabe Williams (Chicago, Ill./Farragut), a 5-foot-9 guard, averaged 17 points and six assists-per-game as a senior to help Farragut to a record of 25-4 and a berth in the IHSA Supersectionals in 2011. A 41% three-point shooter as a senior, Williams was selected to both the All-Chicago Public League Team and the All-CPL Red West squad.
   “Gabe is quick-on-quick,” Trost said. “He's a tough kid and he shoots the ball pretty well.
   “I like what Gabe brings (to the team),” Trost continued. “He's a great kid to be around and capable of being a great player in our league.”
   While last year's 17-win outing is nothing to be ashamed of, Trost knows a few bounces here and there could have pushed the Flyers over the 20-win mark. Last season, Lewis lost nine games by five or fewer points, including a three-point defeat at the hands of eventual National Champion, Bellarmine.
   “It is a fine line between winning and losing,” Trost said. “We need to be more consistent and find a way to win close games.”
   “We have averaged 17-18 wins, but now we need to take next step,” Trost continued. “The experience counts for something, but hopefully that (experience) can lead our young crew and we will see what happens.”