The Hawken boys basketball team is coming off back-to-back seasons with regional appearances and the school’s first state round showing. But after four-year starters Greg Price and Daron Hill graduated, the Hawks will be younger this coming season.

Coach Anthony Burns said the team will be ready for the learning process, which will revolve around junior Ice Taylor early on. Last season, he averaged 16.1 points and connected on 47 3-pointers.

Burns has already seen Taylor make leaps in his game, including working more inside.

Charlie Mallett also returns. The All-Ohio wide receiver is a jack of all trades on the court. Mallett can run the offense and rebound, which have been deciding factors in the Hawks’ runs the last two years. He brings a veteran voice to the floor.

“Well, he’s doing a really, really good job,” Burns said. “We got some young guys out there, and he’s been a tremendous leader. He’s been in those moments. So again, I trust him. I trust Charlie.
You know, when you got good leadership like that, everything else helps itself out.”

Several players also got experience last season. Lewi Walter, KJ St. Clair and Tommy Grajzl had big moments.

While Burns is excited to see the team grow, he knows there will be some lumps along the way.

On their roster at Midwest Live, the Hawks had four seniors listed, including Mallett.

With Taylor, Grajzl and Walter as juniors and St. Clair as a sophomore, along with Lincoln Thomas, Burns knows there’s experience to gain this preseason.

The team isn’t worrying about its record or what happens over the summer. It’s more about their process and developing their chemistry to contend in the loaded Division III district pool.

“(Lewi) is a rising junior,” Burns said. “I threw him out there sometimes as a sophomore, freshman as well. So, he’s a guy that’s been in that moment.
He went to the final four with us, the sweet 16. He’s been in those type of moments. So he saw Greg Price and those guys. So again, like, I got three guys that’s been in those moments. I feel confident with those guys.”

Hawken picked up a win over Benedictine at Midwest Live, 61-57, but was challenged by Berea-Midpark, North Ridgeville and Hoban.