In 2025, if Zac Lendino comes back to Naperville for his 10-year high school reunion, he’d love to tell his former teammates and classmates that he’s a successful athletic director, perhaps one whose school has even played for a sectional basketball championship.
For now, he’ll enjoy the opportunity of playing for one as he and his fellow Neuqua Valley teammates have earned a date with Bolingbrook at 7 p.m. Friday in the Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional championship.
It’ll be a rematch. The Wildcats (27-4) beat the Raiders (22-6) on Jan. 6 in Bolingbrook, 76-69.
“It’s been an amazing year especially being my senior season,” he said. “I’m excited for Friday night. I know it will be one of the things I’ll always remember for all of my life.”
The 6-foot-2 Lendino isn’t the biggest player, but he’s continued to battle against players much taller than him and hasn’t backed down. Such gutsy, determined play has been one of the many keys to Neuqua’s success, especially when they struggle with their outside shots.
“He works so hard and enjoys doing the dirty work,” Wildcats senior Connor Raridon said. “He plays great defense, he’s take charges and then on offense, he can score inside as well as get some offensive rebounds and putbacks.”
A bad break to one of Lendino’s teammates last year helped prepare him for this season. He played more than anticipated after starting center Zac Incaudo was injured. Lendino filled in admirably, averaging 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds.
“Incaudo missed the first eight to 10 games of the year so that gave me an opportunity to start and experience that starting role,” Lendino said. “Even when he came back he didn’t play right way, but worked his way slowly back so getting those minutes early really helped me prepare for this year. I got to play a lot of minutes.”
Lendino is shooting 56 percent (99-for-157) and averaging 7.8 points and four rebounds. He’s picked it up n the postseason, averaging 10.3 points. Like usually is the case at Neuqua, it’s all about offensive balance with five players averaging between 6.6 and 10.9 points and Raridon leading at 15.7.
“He’s the unsung hero who does all the work with no credit, but he’s fine with that,” Neuqua coach Todd Sutton said. “He works and works and works, and he fears nobody. He guards guys a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier and he gets big buckets or he kicks out to guys for wide open threes. We need to get him more touches.”
While his numbers don’t shout out, neither does Lendino. He’s not the loudest kid on the team, but he does what he needs to do to contribute, even if he does it quietly.
“He’s not super loud,” Raridon said. “He’s more reserved but when he’s on the court he’s there to play.”
Whatever happens, Lendino knows his basketball playing days are numbered. He’ll head to the University of Missouri in the fall to study sports management. But for now, he’ll be in Bolingbrook on Friday looking to help the Wildcats win their first sectional title since 2009.
“It’s going to be a blast,” he said. “As seniors we’re not nervous at all, we’re pretty comfortable on the court. I’m just excited to play the game.”
He doesn’t have much longer to wait.
Chris R. Walker is a freelance writer.
