Player, coach and program movement

By Joe Henricksen

A couple of lower-profile teams that had some expectations coming into this season have taken a big hit with recent transfers. Oswego East’s loss is Aurora East’s gain. Letrell “Snoop’ Viser, who put together a solid sophomore season and would have formed a terrific 1-2 punch with senior Jay Harris at Oswego East, will be playing at East Aurora this winter. The junior guard is a solid and versatile offensive weapon who averaged 10 points and 2.5 steals a game as a sophomore playing on the Oswego East varsity.

The addition of Viser to an East Aurora team that already boasts junior star Ryan Boatright and 6-4 Tramell Weathersby is a boon for coach Wendell Jeffries. The Tomcats figure to be the top challenger to Upstate Eight Conference favorite Neuqua Valley this upcoming season.

Maine East’s Charles McKinney, poised for a breakout season after helping lead the Demons to a 19-win season a year ago and putting together a solid summer on the AAU trail with Full Package Athletics, is leaving. McKinney, a long and active 6-4 wing, will be transferring to Quality Education Academy in North Carolina. Maine East already lost their coach last spring when Glenn Olson left Maine East for Niles North.

Crete-Monee just got stronger

Coach Rocky Hill returns the nucleus from last season’s regional championship team, including talented and athletic junior Jamie Crockett. Also joining Crockett and guard Kentrell King and seniors Mario Redmond and Josh Humphrey will be incoming freshman Marvie Keith. The 5-9 point guard is one of the better Class of 2013 prospects in Illinois and is a huge addition to the program.

Crete-Monee also has a pair of young and raw big men. Greg Mays, a promising 6-8 junior, will be a key member of the varsity after making big strides a year ago, while 6-9 sophomore Kalyn Shane is one to keep an eye on. Shane has played just one year of organized basketball but is 6-9 and wears a size 21 shoe.

Local names land college coaching jobs

Lewis University head coach Scott Trost has added veteran coach Condrick “‘Ol Skool” Sanders to his coaching staff. Sanders will replace assistant coach Harley Piercy who resigned last week. Last season Sanders was part of the Robert Morris University staff after a seven-year stint at Highland Community College. With Sanders in the fold, Lewis will continue to target the Chicago area in recruiting.

In other coaching news, Brendan Mullins, the son of Illinois Wolves coach Mike Mullins and the brother of former Southern Illinois star Bryan Mullins who is now playing professionally overseas, has taken the job of Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Mullins spent the last two seasons coaching at Mercyhurst after playing and graduating from Saint Michael’s.

Could St. Joseph be on the move?

St. Joseph may be looking to get out of the East Suburban Catholic Conference. The private school in Westchester, a longtime basketball power under legendary coach Gene Pingatore, could very well be joining a new league in the future, perhaps the Metro Suburban — or possible a move to the Chicago Catholic League? St. Joe’s would join Riverside-Brookfield, Ridgewood, Fenton, Elmwood Park and a likely soon-to-be-member, Glenbard South, if the move to the Metro Suburban materialized. St. Joseph administrators met Wednesday evening to discuss their potential options and have reportedly decided to at least explore other possibilities, though no final decisions have been made.