Over the summer, the H-F basketball team received exceptional information that they would be receiving 2 new high-caliber transfer students.
On July 3, the news broke that the team would be receiving senior,
Mac Hagemaster, who is a 6 ‘8’ center. Hagemaster provides a huge presence on the court and is a key defensive weapon.
“I bring heart, hustle and inside presence to the defense. I’m the guy that will get any ball that’s on the ground and get every possession,” he said. “ I’m not here to get 20 points a game, I’m here to rebound and block shots.”
Hagemaster decided to make the move from Lincoln-Way East over the summer due to personal reasons, but coaching also played a huge part.
“Toughness. That’s one thing about Mac that stands out, his relentless toughness,” said head Varsity coach, Jamere Dismukes.
Dismukes took over the varsity team last year, and by doing so he brought lots of attention and good publicity to the team.
Following Hagemaster’s transition over to the team, on August 28, junior Bryce Heard, who is from the Homewood-Flossmoor area announced on Twitter that he would be transferring from Montverde Academy in Florida back to the suburbs to attend H-F.
Heard is a 6’6’ guard who is known for his athleticism and leadership.
“His skill set is one of his greatest attributes. He’s skill-able and extremely athletic, that’s something a lot of kids can’t do,” remarked Dismukes.
As Montverde holds one of the nation’s top high school basketball teams, this transfer shocked many. Heard is a heavy recruit, and has already received 19 offers. Some of these schools include Louisiana State University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Southern California. It’s safe to say that he is coming to lead the boys basketball team to success.
Hagemaster looks forward to playing with Heard.
“He is a leader on and off the court. He makes every right read and makes sure that we get our offense started” he stated.
Now that the season is almost underway, The coaching team of Dismukes, Kentrell King, Marcus Starks and Shea Sumpter have been doing a phenomenal job of marketing their players and putting them in the best place possible to start getting offers from schools.
Every week H-F hosts 2 to 3 open gyms for current, as well as aspiring players to come and show their talents. Many college coaches come and watch, ranging from schools as large as the University of Georgia or the University of Illinois to smaller schools such as Wake Forest.
The season kicks off November 22, with the annual Chicago Heights Classic hosted by Marian Catholic High School. The team has a lot of stacked games this year, playing in a variety of multi-day tournaments.
The players, along with coaches have set goals for themselves this year:
“We want a state championship, that’s our goal, that’s why we’re here at H-F. Every program that plays here at H-F, I think we all have the same goal in mind,” said Dismukes.
