No shortage of good big men in area

Updated: February 9, 2012 7:22PM

Sometimes you have to credit the opponent.

Tuesday night was my first opportunity this season to see Lincoln-Way Central’s 6-foot-8 Brad Foster firsthand. The Knights were visiting Joliet West in a SouthWest Suburban Blue game, and although underdogs, they had been competitive.

Central coach Bob Curran said before the game there were just two games that had gotten away from the Knights and become blowouts — one against Bolingbrook, the other against Homewood-Flossmoor.

The third time happened Tuesday. After losing two games last week, West came out “refreshed and energized,” coach Luke Yaklich said. “That first half was about as well as we could have played.”

The Tigers led 39-10 at halftime and to that point had forced 15 turnovers while committing one.

Needless to say, I did not see the Foster who had been averaging 16 points and 9 rebounds. With West’s 6-foot-6 junior Andre Hardy doing a bulk of the dirty work, Foster was limited to five points and four boards. But expect him to bounce back with a vengeance.

Foster will play next season at Lewis. Curran noted “Lewis is getting a real steal. I think Brad will have a very good career there, when he gets with those good guards Lewis always has. He’s athletic and has a frame where he can add strength.”

Discussing Foster got me thinking about one of the complaints about boys basketball in our area. I can’t tell you how many times over the last several years I have heard, “Where have all the good big men gone?”

I started thinking about it. This season, I have seen West’s 6-9 Marlon Johnson several times, and Tuesday he turned up the “wow” factor, especially in the first half, when he was a high-flying offensive force. On Friday night, he will be Joliet Central’s headache for the second time this season as the Steelmen visit the Tigers (7:30 p.m. in the West field house).

Last Friday, I got another look at Plainfield East’s 6-9 Brian Bennett, who will play next season at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. His third quarter was a major reason the Bengals were able to outlast Minooka.

For an area supposedly short on big men, Johnson and Bennett are an awfully good place to start.

But there are others among the large schools in our area that also come to mind. Foster, Bolingbrook’s Ben Moore, Plainfield South’s Will Nixon, Providence’s Mike Marietti, Plainfield Central’s Andre Norris and Morris’ Danny Friend all have nice size and varying skill sets.

Minooka’s Lavell Dean and Adam Reynolds and Morris’ Jake Olson may not have the height we normally associate with “good big men,” but they are in the 6-4, 6-5 range and are strong and capable of holding their own against taller foes.

So where have all the good big men gone? Several, at least this season, are right here in our area.

There was a time when basketball was defined as a big man’s game. But with the three-point shot and more halfcourt pressure defense being employed, guard play has grown in importance. It used to be every team started two guards. Now, three is normal and some start four.

Still, there is obvious value to the good post player. Hopefully, some of our teams will be able to take advantage of having that big man when we get into postseason play late this month.

WJOL tournament

Scott Slocum, of WJOL Radio, director of the season-opening WJOL Thanksgiving Tournament at the University of St. Francis, recently said it is official that the annual six-team event will expand to eight teams next season. Minooka and Crete-Monee have been added to the field that includes Joliet Central, Joliet Catholic, Lockport, Providence, Romeoville and Plainfield Central.

Each team is guaranteed four games. Pool play will take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with Saturday games matching corresponding finishers from the two pools.

Joliet Central camp

A 12-week camp scheduled at Joliet Central should interest local kids regardless of their sport.

Registration continues from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 16 and Feb. 23 in the Central field house for the 0 to 60 Elite Speed Sports camp, which will be held in the field house. Boys and girls 7 to 14 (grades 3 to 8) are welcome. Cost of the camp, which will run from 3:30 to 5:30 Sundays beginning Feb. 26 and ending May 20, is $40.

Each kid who participates in any or all sports will learn specific drills and training exercises that will continue to help improve their speed and agility in addition to their confidence and respect. Contact one of the coaches, William Austin at (815) 791-3374 or Terrell Pork at (815) 483-8242, for information.

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