By Bobby Narang
As the defending Class 4A State champions, the Benet Academy High School boys basketball team experienced a different, but welcome feeling in June.
The Benet Redwings, fresh off a thrilling 55-54 victory over Warren in the 4A final for the program’s first State championship in March, played with a big target on their backs in the June live period, including at the Riverside-Brookfield three-day shootout.
Benet senior center Colin Stack said it was different to be the hunted rather than the hunter.
“Going into the lives periods, we knew we had to be prepared for everyone’s best shot, play our own games and stay together no matter the outcome of the game,” Stack said.
Benet coach Gene Heidkamp, who led the Redwings to three second-place State finishes in his tenure, said his players embraced the challenge.
“I thought we had a good summer, but it helped to have some returnees,” Heidkamp said. “I thought that was a big benefit for us. We had a lot of players step up and play well through the course of the month. The younger guys also came in and did a good job and were really productive.
“The great thing is they were hungry and it was gratifying after last season. There was not a lot of talk about last year and they were not resting on their laurels and were hungry to have another great year.”
Stack and senior point guard Jayden Wright are two of the main returnees for the Redwings, who finished with a 33-5 record last season.
The 7-foot tall Stack said the Redwings played strong in June.
“I think we are much better defensively than last year and have many of the same strengths as we did last year,” Stack said. “We pushed in transition, crashed the glass and played together very well. Going into June, we knew that we were going to have a target on our backs and that we were going to be the team to beat.
Stack, who has five offers, is coming off a solid junior season in which he averaged 12.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks for the 4A State champions.
Heidkamp said Stack is a budding prospect.
“Colin is one of the better bigs in the State,” Heidkamp said. “He’s a great rim protector, can score around the rim and shoot the three-pointer. He’s already had quite an accomplished career already, along with Jayden Wright.”
Stack and Wright will cause another year of havoc in Chicagoland, forming one of the top center-point guard combos in the state. Wright, a senior, averaged 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season to earn East Suburban Catholic All-Conference, along with Stack.
“Both players have experience and a level of success, so it will be fun watching them compete together and play in bigger roles this year,” Heidkamp said. “Those two guys have been through everything.”
Stack agreed with his coach regarding Wright.
“We respect each other’s game and decisions and know if we play together, we both can complement each other’s game very well,” Stack said.
Stack, who has a 7-3 wingspan, owns offers from UIC, Indiana State, Eastern Illinois, Illinois State, and Bryant.
Stack said he’s ready for a big showing in the AAU July period.
“I’m excited for July mainly because I get to show parts of my game that you don’t really get to see in the high school season,” Stack said. “I want to show what I can do in transition. My main focus is getting a rebound and getting downhill either playmaking for someone else or getting all the way to the rim and finishing the play.
“I feel like I sometimes slow the offense down a little big whenever I look for a guard to bring the ball up, so I’ve been working on bringing the ball above halfcourt and making smart decisions.”