***High school coaches can continue to fill out the Season Preview Form to provide information on their teams. This is not required to be featured, but it does help provide context to put together the previews.

St. Francis

Outlook:

Coach Dwyer and the Spartans are looking forward to seeing the payoffs from a strong offseason. Three-year players Niko Quaranta (8 ppg/5 apg) and Gavin Mueller (7 ppg/10 rpg) are back to lead to the way. Quaranta is a savvy lead guard who keeps his dribble alive and will be critical as a playmaker in the rugged Catholic League. Mueller has emerged as a high-level Division 1 football recruit and looks the part. The 6-foot-6 forward is explosive, physical, and has expanded his perimeter game. He’s also as high character of a kid as you’ll find and is expected to have a big impact on both ends.

Seniors Owen Gjerde and Mark Balaskovits will also play crucial roles in the frontcourt. Nathan Silagi and Tanner Hozian are two juniors who could have large impacts early on while sophomore Ben Wharlow has some promise as a skilled, 6-foot-6 forward. A tough non-conference schedule should help boost the readiness as they prepare for conference play.

Key Players:

Sr – Niko Quaranta (6’2 Guard)

Jr – Gavin Mueller (6’6 Forward)

Sr – Owen Gjerde (6’5 Forward)

Sr – Mark Balaskovits (6’0 Forward)

Jr – Nathan Silagi (6’2 Guard)

Jr – Tanner Hozian (6’1 Guard)

So – Ben Wharlow (6’6 Forward)

Prospect For College Coaches To Keep An Eye On:

Niko Quaranta (6’2 PG, 2025)

Quaranta had a solid junior year where he contributed across the board. He understands angles very well and has the type of point guard instincts that rub off on the rest of the team. Now in the leading role in the backcourt, he will show more of his scoring ability on drives and pull-ups. Quaranta should be attracting some D3 interest as a primary ball-handler.

Gavin Mueller (6’6 PF, 2026)

Sports aside, Mueller is a great kid when it comes to work ethic, unselfishness, and perspective. The 6-foot-6 big has been a positive presence since his freshman season and has some of the most imposing physical traits in the state. He has a nose for the ball and is dominant as a rebounder and shot blocker at both ends with his quickness and leaping ability. Mueller also has touch and the ball-handling to be valuable in DHO actions and short rolls. While it looks like he will be a priority for many Power 4 programs for football, Mueller has the intangibles, skill, and athleticism to be a productive college basketball player.