The Leathernecks might not have had a roster full of talent but at least at two positions they were as good as anyone in the new Summit.  Senior Chuck Schramm is the leader up front for the Leathernecks and one of the best big men in the conference.  A no nonsense player who lacks size to really hang in there underneath against this level of competition,  Schramm is a fighter and produced good numbers especially on the boards.  He does not have a great low post offensive game but will keep coming at you.  A natural power forward where even there he is undersized at six foot six Schramm found himself playing center much too often.  This Highland Park product was the best player on the team every game he has suited up in the purple and gold.  He may not get the recognition he deserves playing for a basement dweller in one of the worst conferences in the country but Schramm is one heck of a basketball player. 

Sophomore Joe Dykstra led the team in scoring and was the main offensive weapon.  A good all-around offensive player who has solid skills inside and out, Dykstra was counted on for way too much productivity.  On another team he would have been a nice third option but here he was the man.  He is also six foot six and has enough size to bang down low but can get out a hit a mid-range jumper.  Don’t get me wrong he is not what Larry Legend is to Terre Haute but to Macomb he is ‘Mr. Basketball.’  He averaged 14 and a half points a game and almost six boards a game.  That might not seem like prolific numbers but here they were Adrian Dantleyesque.  Like Dantley, Dykstra is especially good at drawing fouls with a variety of low post moves.  Not only can he draw fouls at a high rate but he can make them at an even higher rate.  He shot 94% from the line after shooting almost 200 foul shots.  He actually finished in the top ten in the country in this category and that shows how hard he works around the basket.  He even made a crazy 64 in a row at one point which was the most in the country.  The Leathernecks might not win a game if he does not produce numbers that are legend (say it Barney) like in Macomb.  These two studs kept the Leathernecks flying and in games but Morley had to fill out a team from beyond the remnants of his great NAIA teams and wants to build the four-year way.  Morley is loyal to the players that made him a legend in Macomb and they got the first shot. 

Morley will give his Senior studs one more shot at glory for the Leathernecks.  A group of guards led by Gene Talbot got first crack at the two guard but was a bit undersized.  Talbot who was the main man here during there glory days lost his starting role to a most athletic senior guard named Coleman Carrodine but more on him later.  Senior Lupe Rios lost his starting role at the point for the Leathernecks to first year stud Dwayen Banks but was still productive coming off the bench.  Walter Moore, Chuck Behrends, Bill McAfoos and Bob Anderson all took turns last year at the wings with only Anderson lasting into the new year as he can score some.  There was one Senior guard who played well and that was Carrodine.  Carrodine is a solid offensive player who lost some minutes as Coach Morley rotated in several players as the season progressed to find some future talent.  Carrodine is an athlete who can get to the hoop (a trait shared by all Leathernecks) but is not a great outside shooter.  He will be  

The Senior forwards were of the same ilk as the guards.  Obviously Schramm was solid down low but the other carryovers were even smaller though they did show some athleticism.  Grady McCollum is a terrific athlete who can jump to the moon and did play well but was way undersized at 6’4.  The same could be said for Marshall Stoner who might have the best legs on the team (at least in show) and can score as well with a good mid-range game.  They were the starting forwards for about a week together until Dykstra took over the three.  They both lost minutes last year but McCollum is schedule to start at the four right now which does not bode well with a 6’6 and 6’4 combo at the post.  This team needs size like Wrigley Field needs lights.  Post players Jack Milam, Al Miksis and Dan Braun got limited minutes behind Schramm and McCollum a and were vastly overmatched both vertically and with their overall game. Miksis has some size at 6’7 (if you call that size) and Milan has huge hands but neither played much after Christmas. Braun is a terrific board guy who works his tail off but goes 6’4 on a good night.  Obviously, Morley should have pulled the plug on these guys earlier than he did as he was loyal to a fault. This senior group which also includes Monzel Jackson has had some more glorious days but Morley has to find some big guys who can play or the Leathernecks might go the way of the leather helmet. 

Now for the guys Morley decided to try get this program up to par.  Sophomore point guard Dwayne Banks ran the show for the Leathernecks.  A good penetrator and dish guy, Banks needs improve his ability on the perimeter.  He can hit an open shot but does not have great range.  His defense is solid and he is a good quarterback and should improve at the other parts of his game.  Brad Bainter was the only Junior on the roster who got any minutes in the back court. Morley must have taken a year off from recruiting eh.  Bainter played well but needs to get more time as he is a nice little combo guard who is smart as a whip. 

The best returning underclassmen up front is Sophomore forward Todd Hutcheson.  Hutcheson is a good all-around post player who can score a little and board.  His best attribute is his intelligence and know how in the paint.  Hutcheson usually guarded the other team’s best post player and though he was undersized (6’7) he is the biggest guy on the roster who got any real minutes.  He is a leader and a warrior and the Leathernecks are glad to have him even if he is a bit limited vertically.    

The Western Illinois Leathernecks did not have a great year.  They were near the bottom of one of the weakest conferences in the country.  They did not have the talent to compete with any elite teams.  They did however play hard and will continue to do this even it takes Coach Stix Morley some time to find the player he needs to make this program successful.  That is probably the last chance that the city of Macomb has at glory because this team now is stuck in a place that nobody wants to be.  Being in the basement in this almost forgotten league is akin to being stuck in the suburbs of Chicago on some local UHF channel playing classic rock and making lame jokes for your buddies.  But hey weirder things have happened! Party on Garth!