Coming into school at 5 a.m. to shoot, lifting after school twice a week. These are just some of the ways the Naperville North boys basketball team looks to duplicate and build on last year’s success.

The Huskies finished 23-5 (15-1 in the DVC) last season, eventually losing to York High School in the regional championship. Fortunately for the team, they return five players who started games last year, including all-conference selections Winston Elston and Chris Johnson, and the DVC Player of the Year in Mitch Lewis.

Head Coach Jeff Powers talked about what the team has learned from last year.

“I think our guys figured out what was needed to excel at such high level,” said Powers.

Despite the loss of 4-year starter Jelani McClain and big man EJ Vaughn, the team returns the core group of players that won the DVC with only one conference loss.

“Having the experience that we have this year, and the work the guys put it over the summer and off-season, gives us the ability in the first two weeks of practice to move from simpler concepts to more complex concepts,” said Powers.

The work that players put in during the offseason extends throughout the entire boy’s basketball program and can be seen in the depth and bench of the varsity squad. Naperville North has one of the deepest benches in the DVC, led by seniors Chris Sullivan and Derek Amend, junior Ryan Laurenzo and sophomore Tom Welch.

“No matter what five guys we put on the court during practice, everyone’s competing at such a high level and that’s only going to make us better,” said Powers.

“I feel that anybody coming off the bench can immediately help and have great contributions,” added Mitch Lewis.

While well-known players like Elston, a floor general, and Johnson, a big man with a knack for scoring the ball and dominating the boards get the accolades, other players fill important and sometimes underappreciated roles on the team. Contributions by 3-point specialist Tyler Carlson and defensive menace Camaron Hardy, have taken the team to another level.

“This is probably one of the best all-around teams I’ve ever been apart of,” said Lewis.

It all starts Monday in the Hoops for Healing tournament, where the Huskies will take on Hinsdale Central on Monday and West Aurora on Tuesday.

“I think we have a good chance of winning Hoops for Healing this year,” said Elston. “I believe that after our first win, we are gonna keep rolling.”

For star Mitch Lewis, he has four goals in mind.

“Win hoops for healing tournament, win York Christmas tournament, win the conference and make a run in playoffs,” said Lewis.

To quote legendary Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, “Just Win Baby”. That should be no trouble for the Huskies this year.

2015 Player Statistics (courtesy of NN Basketball)

Returning Starters:

Mitch Lewis Sr 6’6 G 11.5 ppg 5.1 RPG 2.6 APG

Winston Elston Sr 5’8 G 9.2 ppg 1.5 RPG 2.4 APG

Cam Hardy Sr 6’2 G 7.4 ppg 3.2 RPG 1.3 APG

Tyler Carlson Sr 6’1 G 7.2 ppg 1.5 RPG 1.2 APG

Chris Johnson Jr 6’7 F/C 11.2 ppg 6.6 RPG 1.3 APG