The St. Xavier basketball team is coming off a tremendous season despite falling short of their goal of a state championship. Looking ahead, the basketball Tigers are poised for a huge season and have a great group of senior leaders like Will Hanke, Graham Krezmien, and Chance Dillingham among others.
Though the Tigers are senior heavy, they should expect contributions from incoming freshmen like Josh Lindsay. Moreover, players like Jeremiah Jackson and Bryce Johnson will be given bigger leadership roles as upperclassmen, and should thrive in their roles.
Basketball is different from other sports in that the offseason is much more important and telling. Whether it’s AAU ball, summer league games, or grueling practices, the basketball team is constantly working on their craft day in and day out.
Will Hanke provided answers to questions about how the team has prepared for their quest of capturing their first state title since 1962.
How has the offseason been overall for the team?
The offseason has been excellent thus far. We had a great June season capped off by a championship win over Great Crossing in the KABC Titans Shootout. We’ve put in a lot of hard work in the last few months on the court, in the weight room, and on the track. So far, we’ve done a great job building off of the positives from last season while also being especially motivated by last season’s finish.
How have you grown as a team this offseason?
We’ve grown a lot more mature since last season in terms of team attitude and consistent practice habits. Unlike last year, we are a senior-led team with plenty of experience. Coming off last season, we were able to learn a lot about what it takes to reach our goals.
What are your expectations this upcoming season for yourself and the team?
I expect this team to finish the season as district, region, and state champions. We also hope to be one of the first teams to ever win back-to-back LIT championships. I have to continue to grow as a leader for this team as well as more of a scoring threat.
What are some key strengths of the team this year?
Our depth, much like last year, allows us to wear down our opponents with our fast pace and defensive pressure. Moving the ball extremely well and playing unselfishly makes us very tough to guard. As we continue to grow more mature, that will become a big advantage for us against less experienced teams.
What game are you most looking forward to this season and why?
Aside from tournament play, I look forward to our games against Trinity and Great Crossing. Trinity, of course, is our rival and they’ve won the last two matchups at Bellarmine. That’s always a huge momentum game for the team and the student body. Great Crossing is one of the best teams in the state with several D1 players. Additionally, we were 2-0 against them this summer which developed an emerging rivalry.
The Tiger Basketball team is gearing up for an exciting season thanks to their dedication to offseason work and lessons learned from last year. With a good combination of experienced upperclassmen and promising freshmen, the Tigers should be more than prepared to have a statement season.
They’ve built a ton of momentum during the offseason with a win in the KABC Titans shootout, and confidence is at an all time high for the basketball guys. As they get closer to battles with Great Crossing and Trinity, the Tigers are ready to outwork teams all across the Commonwealth and hope to cut the nets in Lexington later this year.
