It's the time of year when the seasons change, and so do the sports. Basketball is quickly upon us. Here are a few questions to help you get to know your new team a bit.

Rashim, going into this season, are you looking forward to anything special compared to previous seasons? Last year, you were 23-9 and poised to do well in the postseason. Do you have any concrete goals for this year?

We try to focus on committing to our style of play and mission every year, working hard to get better every day, and doing what's necessary to be successful not only in basketball but in life. A lot of those foundational aspects are consistent.

You have a freshmen-centric roster currently. Do you feel there are players ready to step into the grind of their first college season? Sometimes, a high school player who goes deep into the playoffs can come into a season possibly more prepared than some of the other players. Are there any notable standouts leading the charge?

We have a few older "freshmen" who either went postgraduate, were at another school, or took a gap year. Most of them are not fresh out of high school, so they have some experience and maturity under their belts. We have a roster full of guys who bring a number of things to the table.

In practice, are there any surprises? Any one player fitting in better than you thought?

I have been impressed with all of our guys for different reasons. Some of them have surprised me with their work ethic, skill set, maturity, academics, willingness to learn, etc. This is not typically the case with guys who are new to a program. 

It takes a while for a team to gel, coming together and playing like a team takes time. Do you do anything special in practice to help accelerate this process?

I'm not sure you can accelerate that process because everyone comes from different coaching styles, roles, and systems. What we try to do is uphold a certain standard and make it a focus every day. 

With such a new team, are there any players you might want to help introduce to us? Or maybe a sophomore is coming into the season with a positive edge you're excited to see on the court.

Sophomores:

• 6'3" Kijuan Stricklin - He played for us two years ago and took a gap year with us last season. He's really worked to fine-tune his game and has made tremendous strides. He is such a competitor, and I am looking forward to his contributions this season.
• 6'8" Miles Graham - Extremely skilled and has incredible court awareness. Stepping into a bigger role and responsibility this year. Will be a force in the region.
• 6'5" Gabriel Wright - Transfer in from another junior college, have known him for a few years prior and always have appreciated his versatility and athleticism. Covers a lot of ground quickly on both ends.
• 6'5" Logan Gramly - (Returning from medical redshirt) Has the tools and skills to contribute to a winning brand of basketball. Sneaky athleticism. 
• 6'6" Caeden Myers - (Returning from medical redshirt) I anticipated him being a big piece to our championship team last season; when he went down, it was a big loss. I am truly excited to see him back on the floor and think he can be a great addition to our roster. There is nothing he can't do on the floor, and he is multi-positional.

Freshmen:

• 6'3" Turrell Cleaves Jr. - Has a special knack for getting to his spots and scoring the basketball. Effortless athleticism. Has big play ability.
• 6'4" Nehemiah Dunn - Athletic slasher/scorer from Waukegan High School. Knows how to finish and knock down shots. Looking forward to his continued trajectory.
• 5'11" Darnell Wilder - Love Darnell's competitive spirit and defensive energy. The type of complete guard that's needed to be a good team.
• 5'9" Noah Campbell - Standout at Willowbrook HS. Lightning speed and quickness. Very dynamic scorer and playmaker. 
• 6'10" Wilfred Kamukama - Skilled wing/stretch four shooter. He can cause matchup problems with his skill set and versatility. Has some serious upside.
• 6'5" Amarri Ford - Transferred to us from another junior college. A well-rounded athlete who can do a lot of things well. I really appreciate his versatility, court vision, and passing ability!
• 6'2" Oliwier Dzik - Big time shooter. He has a good feel for the game and is a willing passer. He plays well with any four guys he's on the floor with.
• 6'3" Malachi Barrett - Strong and athletic guard. Excellent floor game. He is very coachable and willing to do what's needed of him to win. Tough cover in transition.
• 6'0" Jake Terlecki - 1,000-point scorer at Crystal Lake Central High School. He always finds himself in the right positions in all aspects of basketball. 

You seem to have an amazing grasp of the system you want to run as a coach. When a team turns over like this, do you change that philosophy at all? Do you adapt to the new talent on the roster? Do you play faster or more methodically?

Fundamentally, there are things that we will stay consistent with every year. But with the roster changes, you have to adapt to what you have and don't have. 

With your sophomore class, do you have any goals for them as a group or even a concrete goal for any one player? For example, lead the team in rebounds, or lead the team spiritually behind the scenes, be leaders?

Our sophomores are expected to be leaders. We don't force that responsibility on our players; we allow them to be leaders in their own way, whether vocally, by example, behind the scenes, etc. 

I know you set a wonderful example of leadership for the teams you coach, and sometimes, a player takes on that role to help the roster along as the season progresses. Do you have such a player on your current roster? Has their leadership already emerged this early?

Our three returning sophomores have done a good job being leaders and bringing our new guys along. Kijuan Stricklin finds particular ways to be a vocal leader. Miles Graham, as our season progresses, has done a good job speaking up and challenging guys to maintain our standards. Caeden Myers is our quiet, confident leader; he does things behind the scenes and leads by example.

Good luck this season. Thanks for your time, Rashim.

Thank you so much, I appreciate you!