Henricksen: Why Bolingbrook is the real deal

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Bolingbrook’s Kaleb Thornton (3) gets a steal and pushes the ball down court against Lockport. Worsom Robinson/ For the Sun-Times.

After watching Bolingbrook dismantle Romeoville Wednesday night, I walked out of the gym and into the frozen night thinking of three things that were on the immediate to-do list:

1) I first wanted to check in with Nebraska coach Tim Miles about yet another one of his recruits from this state. His latest signed player out of Illinois, Bolingbrook senior Nana Akenten, was absolutely terrific.

2) I needed to double-check my schedule to see what is planned for Tuesday, Jan. 24, because that Bolingbrook-Joliet West matchup is a can’t-miss game during this 2016-2017 season.

3) And finally, I needed to start writing my piece on Bolingbrook being as good and as talented as any team in the suburbs.

So here we are, on to No. 3 on that to-do list.

While Public League powers Curie and Simeon appear to be a step above the rest of the pack right now as we head into holiday tournament time, Bolingbrook is so clearly –– and a bit quietly –– right there with the next handful of teams.

Coach Rob Brost’s team has been impressive since the three-win romp in Decatur over Thanksgiving week. Check out the scores of the last five Bolingbrook wins: 87-65, 69-42, 99-62, 63-38 and 84-55.

Bolingbrook just might be the best team in the suburbs. Sorry Evanston. Sorry Joliet West. And I apologize to you too, Bolingbrook, for putting a big bulls-eye on your back.

But I’ll begin to tread a little lightly from that bold statement and continue to include the word “might” until further notice. That’s simply because the Raiders haven’t been truly tested, still don’t have a marquee win under their belt and have yet to play a ranked team.

The schedule, though, will only get tougher going forward. There will be the potential for a test or two at the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic later this month, two conference dates with talented Homewood-Flossmoor, the aforementioned non-conference clash with Joliet West in January and a trip to the Bank of O’Fallon Shootout in February.

But you can measure talent and potential success in other ways than just who a team has played and beaten. And I’m impressed. This team passes the look test. I mean really passes the look test.

This particular Bolingbrook team hasn’t messed around. It builds leads quickly and doesn’t let up. The Raiders throw punches and knock teams out in a hurry with a sense of urgency. I don’t know if that’s always been the case with the Raiders in the early part of seasons. You get the sense this team knows how good it can be.

So here are several reasons why Bolingbrook is as talented as any team outside the Chicago Public League.

Speed and athleticism.There is surplus of both with the Raiders. This is as fast and athletic of a Bolingbrook team as Brost has had, and that’s saying something. It’s difference-making, blur-type speed and athleticism we’re talking about.

There is no replicating it in practice in preparation for Bolingbrook. And it’s a dangerous thing to play when matched up against the type of speed and athleticism Bolingbrook can throw at you. The Raiders use it to their advantage, constantly playing in transition and even on the defensive end.

Nana Akenten. The 6-5 senior wing has arrived. He wasn’t a varsity contributor early in his career as many of the top seniors were. But he showcased his promise and then he blossomed into a double-figure scorer last season. Now he’s a full-fledged all-state caliber player headed to the Big Ten next year.

Possessing terrific physical attributes, including pure explosiveness off the floor with electric finishes above the rim, Akenten has evolved into a deadly three-point shooter. With lift off the floor and a high release point, Akenten’s perimeter jumper is so difficult to defend.

He’s playing with more confidence and assertiveness as a senior star, which is why he’s averaging 18 points and 7 rebounds a game while playing only 20 minutes a game in Bolingbrook’s blowout wins. He’s also shooting a ridiculous 58 percent from beyond the arc.

Malik Binns. He may have hopped around from school to school to school during his prep career, but he looks comfortable and so far fulfilled as a senior at Bolingbrook. And he’s the exact type of player, position and body the Raiders needed. He fills so many roles. Rugged and strong, Binns is playing with a motor and tenacity as a 6-5 big man who finishes around the rim and is a major presence on the glass.

Solid and disruptive guard play. There is speed oozing from the backcourt’s pores. It’s a disruption on both ends of the floor, and especially in transition.

Anyone who caught a Bolingbrook game last season saw the exciting potential of freshman Joseph Yesufu, an explosive athlete for a player his size. The 5-9 Yesufu is a true point guard and menace in the open court.

Then Kaleb Thornton, a transfer from Nazareth Academy, arrived this summer. The 6-0 guard shined in June while getting familiar with his new teammates.

Now Thornton and Yesufu form a jet-quick backcourt who get in the lane, attack the basket and where get to anywhere on the floor they want at will.

Balance. While Akenten has elevated his status and shown he’s an all-state type of player, the Raiders have a collection of weapons. In addition to Akenten, the trio of Binns, Thornton and underrated sophomore Tyler Cochran are all averaging double figures at 12, 11 and 10 points a game, respectively.

Depth. If the Big Ten-bound Akenten and three other double-figure scorers weren’t enough, there is also Trevor Ross. The 6-4 wing transferred in after three years of varsity basketball at Oswego East and provides another versatile threat, while Brandon Lawani is an improving and athletic 6-7 big man off the bench.

The season is still so fresh. And Bolingbrook, like every team at this point in December, knows it must continue to progress to have the season it wants and where it wants to be in March. But this team, on paper and from a physical standpoint, is better than the Bolingbrook team that finished third in the state in 2015 and very easy on the eyes.

Follow Joe Henricksen and the City/Suburban Hoops Report on Twitter @joehoopsreport

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