The Prospect boys’ basketball team plays in a summer league each year with more than 50 teams from all over the Midwest. This year, the team went 16-6 in summer league play, meaning that they went into the Madison tournament on June 26 with a stronger record compared to their overall 13-18 record just last winter.
However, the trip served less as a tournament and more as a projection for the upcoming season. Going 3-1 in their two days in Madison, the team was able to take down Waubonsie Valley, who went 31-3 in overall play and finished 10th in Illinois last year.
During the Madison tournament, the boys got the time they needed to bring the team together for the upcoming season. Senior guard Colin Tucker believes the tournament marked a turning point on where the team is going to succeed.
“We could’ve easily went 0-4 throughout that whole tournament,” Tucker said. “The way we were playing together and moving the ball [during the tournament] was where I knew we could be really good this year.”
In the 2024-25 season, the boys’ basketball team finished third in the Mid-Suburban League East. With 10 seniors having graduated, this new senior-heavy lineup will also have to face a new division alignment for the first time since 1998.
They will no longer be facing Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove and Wheeling, which are teams that have all lost to the Knights in the past two seasons. This year’s new conference will pair them against big opponents such as Fremd (undefeated as of Dec. 10) and Barrington, the top two teams in the MSL West just last year combining for an overall record of 46-12. This new division will prove difficult for the Knights, but that’s exactly what Tucker wants.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for us especially, but it’s going to be more exciting,” Tucker said. “This is how we wanted it to happen for our senior year, going out like this.”
Head coach Brad Rathe felt the team “struggled to meet their standards” last year, and hopes that they will be able to bounce back. The team landed just a few games under .500 last season for the first time since the 2020-21 shortened season. Rathe hopes that the seniors, Tucker specifically, will be able to take charge and lead the team back on track.
“We’re going to rely on [Tucker] to be a leader,” Rathe said. “I’ve been trying to work with him on his leadership abilities, and I
think that he’s ready to take that next step.”
Hoping to improve on overall teamwork, Tucker plans on focusing on the mindset of the team going into games, watching film and adjusting to the new competition as needed.
“There are some things that just happen that you have to live with,” Tucker said. “If you can go out there with 100% effort, that’s all you can really do.”
Since this group of seniors have been playing together since middle school and were on the same starting lineup their sophomore year, the chemistry between them has always been present. Playing together for this long allows them to give feedback to each other without any negativity, providing the team with more effective communication.
“It’s a lot easier to critique each other without others taking it personally,” Tucker said. “We all know we’re trying to get better, and it’s nothing personal.”
A starting senior lineup doesn’t only prove beneficial to the seniors, but the entire team. A returning junior guard, Quinn Zinzer, will be one of the eight juniors who will get play time on varsity this year. Last year, Zinzer felt he did not get as much time on the court as he had wanted, averaging 3.4 points per game. He hopes this year will serve as a chance for him to play up with the seniors and get the playing time and experience this team can provide for him.
“The chemistry is going to be amazing, we have been waiting for this [season] forever,” Zinzer said. “I just hope we can maintain the goals we want to get. Basketball is a long season, but I believe we can do it.”
As of Dec. 10, the Knights have a 4-2 record and hold third place in the MSL west. The Knights have had significant wins over Libertyville and Saint Viator, scoring two more than 70 point games in the first few weeks, compared to one in the previous season.
The annual Saint Viator Thanksgiving Classic showcased the team’s ability to work together, starting the season off strong with an undefeated record.
“I think we shared the ball [and] played together well, I was really happy coming out of that week 3-0, I think it’s above expectations,” Rathe said in a recent episode of Prospect Sports Weekly.
Zinzer leads the team with 13.4 points per game, along with Tucker, with 8.8 ppg, and junior forward Danny Simon with 10.8 ppg. Now getting the playing time he wanted, Zinzer appreciates both the difficult schedule for the Knights and the senior heavy lineup. With one season left until these players leave, he’s been able to learn the importance of the team’s bond.
“The biggest thing I learned playing with the older guys is [to not] take things for granted. It goes by so fast,” Zinzer said. “I clearly remember being a freshman playing up [with them on the sophomore team], they’re my brothers for life.”
The players are approaching the season with confidence despite the difficult schedule, with each matchup being a chance to prove how far they have come. Many on the roster believe that the tough competition will bring out their best and help them develop a stronger identity as a team. Tucker remains determined to keep the record strong.
“I think it’s a really good start, but we can’t rely on that too much,” Tucker said. “There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s nice to know our work is paying off so far.”
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