Lillemon travels far for recruits
Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 4, 1999
For the first time in his 13 years coaching Riverland men’s basketball, Dave Lillemon recruited in the Twin Cities.
Thursday, November 04, 1999
For the first time in his 13 years coaching Riverland men’s basketball, Dave Lillemon recruited in the Twin Cities.
Prior to the prep hoops season a year ago, Lillemon sent more than 50 letters to metro-area coaches in an effort to guage their interest in sending players to Riverland.
"It was a necessity," said Lillemon, who returns three players, all guards, from last year’s team, "and it was untapped. The people in our area just weren’t there to recruit. We needed people that could help our program."
The effort paid off.
Lillemon filled his most pressing need by recruiting from the Twin Cities. He found an immediate starter in Brett Rogers, a 6-foot, 5-inch, 250-pound low post player from St. Paul Harding.
For good measure, Lillemon also nabbed Rogers’ teammate, Cory Pluta, a 6-4 shooter and rebounder who Lillemon said can play small or power forward.
Rogers and Pluta are the lone metro-area recruits on the squad. But Lillemon hopes it’s the start of something bigger.
"I hope to build on it," said Lillemon, who added that if things go well with these and future recruits, Riverland could gain a name for itself as a favorable two-year option for promising metro-area prep players.
But building that sort of reputation takes time. Lillemon’s bread-and-butter recruiting ground remains closer to home.
He picked teammates Nick Peters and Brandon Kettner off a 21-4 Nicollet squad. Peters is a 6-foot shooter with "great range," said Lillemon.
Kettner is a 6-5, 200-pounder who is "very active," said Lillemon. "He runs great and is a good ballhandler for his size. He can be a four man [power forward] for us."
Lillemon has also inked a third – and most familiar – set of teammates in Zak Ulwelling and Jake Greenman. Ulwelling and Greenman were key figures in Austin’s Big Nine Co-Championship season last year.
The 5-9 Ulwelling will see time at the point guard, spelling starter Beau Hartman.
Greenman is another in a stable of Riverland shooters. He’ll likely fill in for his former Austin High teammate, Jesse Heiny. Heiny is Riverland’s top returner, a do-everything guard.
Lillemon likes having the three sets of teammates around.
"They know each other and how each other plays," Lillemon said. "It makes it easier for everyone to come together."
Lillemon’s remaining recruits are:
– Kris Brose, a 6-6 shooter and shot blocker from Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted,
– Shane Fett, a 6-6 banger and transfer from Southwest State University,
– Tom Yost, a 6-4 defensive specialist from United South Central who joined the team midway through last season,
– Steve Schinault, a 5-9 walk-on from Arizona who is quick and jumps well. He should provide even more depth at guard for Lillemon’s new three-guard, run-the-floor attack.
Lillemon will unveil his new-look Blue Devils on Nov. 13 at UW-Richland Center. The home opener is Nov. 20 against Milwaukee Area Technical College.