Men's Basketball | 11/12/2015 3:18:00 PM

Game Notes (PDF)

Romeoville, Ill. - Lewis University head men's basketball coach Scott Trost loves a challenge.

The 2015-16 edition of the Lewis Flyers returns just four student-athletes that saw significant time on the court for his squad last season.

With the addition of five newcomers, Trost must now mold his 13-man roster into a squad that is capable of making a repeat trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 2002-04.

"We have a talented roster, but we have to see how they come together," Trost said. "We have to learn how hard and how tough you have to play to be successful (in this league)."

Chemistry is crucial to the growth and development of the Flyers, according to Trost, who enters his 10^th year as the Lewis head coach.  

"I think how guys feel about each other, if they care for one another, if they trust each other -  all of those things are more important than schemes," Trost said. "This is a close knit group.

"I think it's as close a team that we've probably had and hopefully that lends itself to more wins."

Count sophomore swingman Max Strus (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) among the talented nucleus of the Flyers. Strus, the 2015 Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, averaged 13.3 points and 4.3 rebounds-per-game in his rookie season.

"Max emerged as a premier player in the GLVC and he's worked awfully hard to get to where he's at," Trost said.

Now that opposing teams will focus on Strus defensively, Trost believes that it will open the floor for the rest of the Flyers.

"We are a team that can be hard to guard and hard to play on the offensive end," Trost said.

The most experienced player on the Flyers is three-year starting center Kyle Nelson (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North). Nelson, who could also see action at power forward, is third in school-history with a 61.7% (288-for-467) field goal percentage.

"Kyle is a European-style 'big' who shoots it pretty well from mid-range and can handle the ball very well," Trost said.

Trost believes that the Flyers will have some depth in the front court, as Nelson will be joined by seniors Brad Foster (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) (6'8", 235 pounds) and David Heckman (Greenwood, Ind./Roncalli) (6'6" 215 pounds), redshirt juniors Paul Baumgart (Canton, Mich./Canton) (6'7", 215 pounds) and Jared Ellis (Marion, Ill./Marion) (6'8", 225 pounds) and freshman Frank Vukaj (Davison, Mich./Davison) (6'9", 210 pounds).

With the defensive focus expected to shift towards Strus, Trost figures junior guards Miles Simelton (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) (6'1", 170 pounds) and Capel Henshaw (Harrisburg, Ill./Harrisburg) should benefit.

Simelton, a Division I transfer from Lehigh University, will play primarily at the point guard position for the Flyers, but can move off the ball as well.   

"Miles is extremely athletic, shoots it well and brings Division I experience to our team," Trost said.

Henshaw, who enters this season as the third-best three-point shooter in school-history, figures to get even more open looks with the focus shifting towards Strus.

The 6'3", 190 pound shooting guard, however, will have some competition from sophomore Austin Soukup (Kildeer, Ill./Eastside Catholic (Wash.)) (6'1", 170 pounds) and freshmen Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) (6'5", 175 pounds) and Jake Reinhart (Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic) (6'2", 180 pounds).

"All of those guys are in the mix for minutes there and they all bring something a little bit different," Trost said. "It's a spot that is still not solidified and there's still a lot of competition left."

That group is versatile as well, as Blaylock can play the small forward position, while Reinhart will see time at point guard.

While the Flyers have won 62 games over the past three seasons, Trost and his team will not rest on their laurels.

"It is going to take a lot of hard work and I don't think there is any substitute for that," Trost said. "The GLVC is a tough league and we will need guys to make plays.

"We're going to have to be ready to go," Trost continued. "I know our kids are excited to get started and we're looking forward to a fun season."