Boys Basketball: West Aurora’s guards gaining experience, confidence

Updated: January 4, 2012 9:34PM

What a difference a year makes.

After taking fifth place last week at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament, West Aurora is off to an 11-2 start as it prepares for the meat of its DuPage Valley Conference schedule — starting with home games this week against Wheaton North and Naperville North.

“We’ve just got a lot of guys with more experience,” said coach Gordie Kerkman, trying to explain the difference. “We had three sophomores (and one freshman) up on varsity last year.”

The development of two of those youngsters, junior Jayquan Lee and sophomore Jontrel Walker, has been important in the Blackhawks’ improvement from a 6-4 record at this time last year.

“Basically, it was a matter of getting used to the speed of the varsity level,” said Lee, who had played on the sophomore team as a freshman.

“It was hard,” Walker said. “There were a lot of expectations (last year). At the beginning of the season I did pretty good, but in the middle I fell off a ways.”

And this year?

“I think we’re a lot better because we’ve got our confidence up,” Lee said.

“I’m a lot more comfortable up here,” Walker said. “It’s just like second nature to me.”

Assistant coach Paul Kieffer, who directs the perimeter players for Kerkman during the game while Dan Batka focuses on the big men, has noticed a change. Both Lee and Walker have improved their shots, he said.

“Jontrel is shooting better,” the coach said. “I’d like to see him improve his shot selection a little bit, but at times we forget that he’s only a sophomore. He’s improved a lot from last year. I think he went through some growing pains last year.”

Of Lee, Kieffer said, “Same thing. He’s shooting the ball better and making better decisions with the ball, handling it better and he’s improved his defense as well.”

In addition to taking part in the Blackhawk summer program, both played AAU ball over the summer. Walker played for the IBA Select team coached by Moraine Valley coach Dedrick Shannon, and Lee was a member of Northern Illinois Basketball of Aurora — where his teammates included Oswego’s Elliot McGaughy.

Senior Juwan Starks, who started on varsity as a freshman like Walker, can relate.

“It was pretty hard for (Walker),” Starks said. “I went through the same things being the youngest on the team. It’s hard, but they’ve worked a lot and they’re not afraid to face anybody this year. If they’re doing good, we’re doing good.”

And don’t forget the contributions of senior Brandon Gossett, added Kieffer.

“He’s been a nice addition after not playing much last year,” the coach said. “He’s worked on his ballhandling. Last year, he turned it over quite a bit and made some bad decisions. He’s improved that and he’s a very good shooter.

“He came off the bench all four games in Pontiac and scored pretty well for us. He can spell those other two (Walker and Lee) and we don’t lose any scoring when he comes in.”

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