The most important moment of Maine West’s season did not occur in Tuesday’s supersectional victory over Zion-Benton, or in an earlier state tournament victory, or even in a game. It happened way back last summer.
Kevin Frey transferred to Maine West from Mt. Carmel. And as word filtered down to Warriors coach Jim Sullivan, optimism built exponentially.
“There were people in the guidance office who are knowledgeable basketball people and they said `There is a big kid walking through the halls and he looks pretty good,’ ” Sullivan said.
Sullivan had heard of the kid before, and all he could do was smile. With Division I prospect Lucas Johnson joined by several consistent shooters, Sullivan already had expected his club to impress. But with Frey, another Division I talent, Maine West was poised to be one of the best teams in the state.
“I’d be lying if I said that I said, `Well, we’ll work him in,’ ” Sullivan said. “That was never the thought.”
Instead, Sullivan put Frey in the low post, Johnson in the high post and the Maine West season on rails. Frey, a 6-foot-7-inch hulk bound for Xavier, possesses ballhandling skills foreign to most high school big men. Johnson, a lithe 6-8 forward headed for Illinois, is quicker than most guards, with great hands and range beyond the three-point stripe.
Throw in shooters Brad Alesi, Bart Fabian and Brian Regan, mix in a pass-first philosophy, and the result is a spot in the Elite Eight. The Warriors (28-3) also have developed a habit of destroying teams in the first quarter, which they have done in varying degrees in the last four games, including a 25-6 outburst against Zion-Benton.
It all starts with Frey and Johnson. Maybe some teams have a player who can guard a player inside and outside. But two players?
“I think our skills complement each other,” Johnson said.
For three years Johnson had worked to be the Warriors’ star, and now, as a senior, he had to share the stage with a transfer.
“That didn’t bother me at all. A lot of people at first thought, `Well, what is Lucas going to think?’ “
And what did he think?
“Anyone else want to play?”
Perhaps Johnson would have been a bit more wary if some other hotshot joined the team. But Johnson knew Frey, having played with him in the summer on an AAU team, the Chicago Pacers. The two hit it off then, even before they knew they would be playing together in the winter.
Incidentally, Johnson and Lucas were joined on that AAU team by Fenwick stars Corey Maggette and Chris Williams. Maine West plays Fenwick at 8:15 p.m. Friday in a state quarterfinal.
Their AAU experience could help Johnson and Frey. Instead of Corey Maggette, McDonald’s All-American, they think they are facing Corey Maggette, old teammate.
“Kevin and Lucas looked at it like they were going to play somebody they knew and were friendly with him,” Sullivan said. “They both want to take him, both feel like this is a great challenge.”
