http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/
FROM KEITH GROLLER
Dieruff used to be one of the premier boys basketball programs in the area. But lately the only time the Huskies have shown some bite has been in the summertime. In fact, they won the Stellar Summer League title in 2012.
The winter? Three consecutive five-win seasons.
But that very well could change this season.
The Huskies showed they are fast and tenacious when they gave Central Catholic all it wanted in this past August's summer league finals at Muhlenberg College.
And now they figure to be much better.
Why?
Tyler Kohl (pictured at right with ball in a Jan. 2011 game against Bangor) enrolled in the school last week. He was one of the best players in the Colonial League three seasons ago at Notre Dame when as a freshman he scored 402 points, the most for any freshman in local hoops history, and averaged 16.8 points per game.
After stops at the Perkiomen School, a brief return to Notre Dame and Trenton Catholic, he is living in Allentown with his brother Anthony Ross, the former Dieruff star and current coach at Penn State-Lehigh Valley.
Kohl, who is capable of scoring inside and outside and being a triple-double kind of guy with great court awareness, makes Dieruff instantly formidable. If he meshes with the rest of his quick, tenacious teammates, Dieruff might challenge Parkland and Central Catholic for the Lehigh Valley Conference crown.
Here's a complete look at Dieruff, which is where I visited on Thursday night:
DIERUFF
Coach: Steve Gabryluk (fourth season 15-51 at Dieruff; 191-230 including stints at Northampton, Catasauqua and Northwestern).
Last year: 5-17, 2-12 LVC.
Scrimmages: 10 a.m., Nov. 30 at Pottsville Nativity; Dec. 3 vs. Pottstown, Quakertown.
Opener: Dec. 7 vs. Easton at Becahi in Yasso-Rothrock Tournament.
Key date: 1 p.m., Dec. 23 at Bangor.
Who's new: There is a possibility longtime Jim Hutnik assistant Jim Filipovits will be joining the staff.
Players to watch: Sr. G Darien Wauchope; Sr G Brian Burtes; Sr. G Tyshyn Harmon; Sr. G Matt Riddick; Sr. F Miguel Dryden; Sr. F Devon Winslow; Sr. F Tyler Kohl; Jr. F Nick Henry; Sr. G Kenledy Saez; Jr. G Tyshaun Golden-McCants; So. F Tajon Roberts; Sr. F Frank Smith; Fr. G Nizayha Speaks.
What's to like: The fact that 35 kids are in the progam, including 13 freshmen. The Huskies are very deep and unlike past years, Gabryluk is optimistic that the kids will do what it takes to stay involved with the program through the season. The Huskies showed a lot of quickness in the summer. Kohl, who is much leaner than he was at Notre Dame in 2010-11, has the talent to be one of the top two or three players in the area and how the rest of the guys react to him will be be critical to Dieruff's chances to compete for a title.
What's to worry about: Gabryluk is hoping that all of the momentum generated by the summer doesn't lose its steam. Since there's only one ball, kids are going to have accept roles and put team goals ahead of their own stats. Coming off a positive football season, the perception about this school has changed. There is a good vibe going. Gabryluk hopes that it continues right through the winter.
Quotable: "We're excited, but we've been excited before," Gabryluk said. "We want to keep an evel-keel about things. Until we do it and we're doing it consistently, I am not going to get too high or too low. We want the kids to come to practice focused every day and ready to give their best effort. If they work together, we're going to be successful."
Four months from now: Dieruff could be looking back at one of its best seasons since the 1990s and its first championship since winning the East Penn Conference crown in 1997.
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