Crestwood High School Boys Basketball Season Preview

As the high school basketball season begins to gear up, all eyes are on Crestwood High School and the team's potential. With a strong group of returning players and some promising new additions, the Crestwood Red Devils are poised to make a run for the title this year. We sat down with head coach Josh Jakacki to get a preview of what fans can expect from the team this season. Coach Jakacki was quick to mention some key additions to the team that he believes will make an immediate impact. Among these players are senior Dakota Johnson, senior Augie Schweickert, senior James Durham, junior Jake Eyerman, senior Bryce Geil, junior Steven Lincoln, sophomore Brody Durham, junior Angelo DiNardo, junior Joel Custer, and junior Kyle Shelhamer. Johnson, in particular, stands out as he is a candidate for Player of the Year with 1253 career points and has worked hard in the offseason, adding 21 pounds and becoming more explosive. When it comes to selecting team captains, Coach Jakacki emphasizes the importance of leadership and decision-making skills. He looks for players who can keep up with the team's fast pace and make quick and selfless decisions on the court. According to Coach Josh, a successful team captain must also possess strong communication skills and be able to motivate and bring the team together. As for who will take on the role of captain, there are a few candidates who are currently battling for the position. All of them possess the necessary qualities, and Coach Jakacki is confident that whoever takes on the role will do a great job leading the team. With a new season comes a new style of coaching for Coach Jakacki. He acknowledges that every year brings a different group of players, and therefore, his coaching style may need to adjust accordingly. This season, the team has been working hard on implementing new schemes that they believe will maximize their talent. Coach Jakacki also mentioned that they will be focusing on playing with more pace, making quick decisions, and utilizing the team's post presence. When asked about the mental aspect of the game, Coach Jakacki emphasized its importance for his team. He believes that to be successful, the team must have a strong mindset and be able to handle pressure and adversity. This is especially crucial in big games and close situations where mental toughness can be a deciding factor in the outcome.