***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.

Lane Tech

Outlook:

After finishing tied for first in the CPL Red-Northwest last year, Coach LoGalbo and the Champions return seven rotation players and three starters. 6-foot-10 big man Dalton Scantlebury (Penn) will enter the year as arguably the best true big in the city. He is set to be a focal point inside after emerging as a constant double-double threat last year. 6-foot-8 senior Zach Mazanowski should also make a huge leap with a unique combination of athleticism, agility, and perimeter skills. Now up over 15 pounds since last year, he has shown glimpses of legitimate Division 1 upside. 6-foot-4 senior Drew Bartolai is also back in the lineup as an attacking, scoring guard who has garnered a lot of high-end D3 interest.

Expect an immediate impact from 6-foot-8 junior forward Matt Szafoni, who seemingly continues to get taller and more comfortable in multiple facets of the game. He’s a talented long-term prospect who could be an x-factor for a deep run. 6-foot-5 senior Luka Pinto is another solid wing with length and versatility who should play a large role. Seniors Brayden Rosenkrantz and Kenny Rosario will provide ball-handling help while 6-foot-4 forward Dylan Pepper should add depth. The Champions have a loaded schedule that will both test and prepare them early on. Coach LoGalbo tends to get the most out of his guys and this may be one of the tallest and deepest units that he’s had.

Key Players:

Sr – Dalton Scantlebury (6’10 Forward/Center)

Sr – Zach Mazanowski (6’8 Foward)

Jr – Matt Szafoni (6’8 Forward)

Sr – Drew Bartolai (6’4 Guard)

Sr – Luka Pinto (6’5 Guard/Forward)

Sr – Brayden Rosenkrantz (5’11 Guard)

Sr – Kenny Rosario (5’11 Guard)

Sr – Dylan Pepper (6’4 Forward)

Prospect For College Coaches To Keep An Eye On:

Dalton Scantlebury (6’10 PF/C, 2025) – Penn commit

Scantlebury was flat out dominant for stretches last year, particularly as a rebounder where he was regularly pulling in 15-plus boards. But his promise as a reliable screen outlet with great hands, soft touch, and a powerful frame to score on the block stood out to college coaches as well. I fully expect for him to be able to extend his range through this year and at Penn where his size and athleticism should be valued early on.

Zach Mazanowski (6’8 SF, 2025)

Mazanowski’s game has continued to grow exponentially, showing the smooth movement, downhill scoring, and shooting ability that are hard to find at 6-foot-8. What has made the difference, and is part of why I have him graded out as a D1/D2 prospect, is his improved strength, forceful play style, and associated consistency. He’s also become a more confident ball-handler, which will be useful for a Lane Tech team who is more frontcourt heavy this year. Mazanowski is far from a finished product, but he has really started to refine his tools.

Drew Bartolai (6’4 SG, 2025)

Bartolai should be the top backcourt scorer for the Champions with how well he gets into the paint and finishes through contact. He’s a high-level athlete at 6-foot-4 with a nose for scoring the ball. With the size in their lineup, Bartolai will likely have smaller defenders tasked with trying to keep him in check, which should be a tough ask given his physicality and motor. Bartolau continues to appeal to some of the stronger D3 programs in the Midwest.

Matthew Szafoni (6’8 SF/PF, 2026)

Szafoni checks a lot of boxes that college coaches look for at the forward spot. And it looks like he’s still a few inches away from maxing out from a height standpoint. He covers ground well, can put it on the ground, passes well from the high post, and has good mechanics as a shooter. Look for him to add significant value as a switchable defender as well. Even in his first year as a full-time varsity player, Szafoni shows signs of being a scholarship-level prospect.