Kasten Named IWU "MVP"

8 May 2002
CONTACT: Head coach Scott Trost, (309) 556-3340

Kasten Named MVP of Titan Basketball Squad

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Junior forward Luke Kasten has been elected the "Most Valuable Player" for the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team.
Kasten (Coffeen, Hillsboro HS), was a first team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin player for the second straight year and was IWU's team leader with averages of 18.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He led the Titans in scoring 15 times and had single-game highs of 33 points (vs. Millikin), 12 rebounds (two times) and five assists (at Augustana).
Kasten moved up to No. 11 in career scoring at the school with 1,372 points. He is also No. 15 in career rebounds with 510 and fifth in IWU history with 345 free throws.
In two new team honors under first-year head coach Scott Trost, junior guard Eric Starkey (Milford HS) was awarded the "Best Defensive Player" honor and junior forward John Camardella (Arlington Heights, Hersey HS) won the "Titan Award", given to the player who best exemplifies team spirit, loyalty, sportsmanship, leadership, good attitude, and citizenship.
Starkey was a starter in 10 games and played 24.2 minutes per game. He averaged 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, was second on the team with 58 assists and made 17 steals.
Camardella played in 18 games after missing early season games recovering from off-season physical problems. He averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and had single-game highs of 17 points (at California Lutheran) and 13 rebounds (vs. St. Xavier).
Kasten and Camardella were elected to serve as the squad's co-captains for 2002-03.
Junior Chris Silagi (Oswego HS) is the winner of the team's annual free throw award. He connected on 37 of 47 free throws for a .787 percentage.
The Titans finished with a 12-12 overall record against NCAA-sanctioned teams. An 82-76 loss to the University of Alberta on Dec. 28 doesn't count against the official IWU record as Alberta does not play enough NCAA teams. The statistics from that game are included, however.
Trost, whose six-season career record as a head coach is 63-61 overall and 31-39 in the CCIW, awarded letters to 10 players, nine of whom will return for next season. The lettermen are, with hometowns and high schools:
SENIOR - Ryan McCreery (Mason City, Illini Central HS).
JUNIORS - John Camardella (Arlington Heights, Hersey HS), Laban Cross (Dahlgren, McLeansboro HS), Marty Eich (Palatine HS), Seth Hubbard (Normal, U High), Luke Kasten (Coffeen, Hillsboro HS), Chris Silagi (Oswego HS), Eric Starkey (Milford HS).
SOPHOMORES - Jim Lehan (DeKalb HS), Shawn McGuire (Forrest, Prairie Central HS).

2001-02 ILLINOIS WESLEYAN BASKETBALL LETTERWINNERS
12-12 overall, 6-8 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

John Camardella, Arlington Heights (Hersey HS), junior
Earned his third basketball letter at IWU ... Winner of the 2001-02 "Titan Award" and chosen as a co-captain of the 2002-03 team ... Played an average of 17.9 minutes in 18 games and started in five, missed the first seven games of the season due to recovery for knee surgery ... Averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game ... Had single-game highs of 17 points (at California Lutheran), 13 rebounds and four assists (both vs. St. Xavier) ... Led team in scoring once and was Titan’s top rebounder twice ... Majoring in history ... He is the son of Roz Camardella.
Laban Cross, Dahlgren (McLeansboro HS), junior
Earned his second basketball letter at IWU ... Was named to the third team of all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin squad ... Played in all 25 games and started in 22, averaging 27.4 minutes ... Averaged 12.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game ... Had single-game highs of 32 points (vs. Wheaton), nine rebounds twice (vs. Wheaton, at North Central), and five assists (vs. University of Alberta) ... Led team in scoring three times and was Titan’s top rebounder four times ... Ranks No. 14 in single-season 3-point field goals made (51) with his performance in (01-02) ... Ranks 11th in career 3-point field goals made with 100 ... Majoring in mathematics ... He is the son of Dr. P.E. and Wilma Cross.
Marty Eich, Palatine (HS), junior
Earned his first basketball letter at IWU ... Played in 21 games, averaging 8.4 minutes per game ... Averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game ... Had single-game highs of eight points (vs. Hardin Simmons), eight rebounds (vs. Wheaton) and one assist (four times) ... Led the team in rebounding once ... Majoring in English ... He is the son of Marty and Cindy Eich.
Seth Hubbard, Normal (U High), junior
Earned his third basketball letter at IWU ... Played in 24 games, started 20, and averaged 23 minutes ... Averaged 7.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game ... Had single-game highs of 17 points (vs. North Park), eight rebounds twice (at Ripon, vs. North Park), and five assists (vs. St. Xavier) ... Was the Titan’s top scorer three times and led the team in rebounding once ... Majoring in arts management ... He is the son of Cal and Vivian Hubbard.
Luke Kasten, Coffeen (Hillsboro HS), junior
Earned his third basketball letter at IWU ... Chosen team "Most Valuable Player" and a co-captain for the 2002-03 team ... Was named to the first team of all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin squad for the second straight year ... Started all 25 games, averaging a team-high 31.2 minutes ... Team leader in scoring and rebounding with an average of 18.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game ... Had single-game highs of 33 points (vs. Millikin), 12 rebounds twice (vs. St. Xavier, Millikin) and five assists (at Augustana) ... Led team in scoring fifteen times and in rebounding eight times ... His performance this season put him 25th in single-season field goal percentage (.531), also No. 23 on that list for 00-01 season (.533) ... Ranks No. 11 in single-season free throws made (127) for 01-02 season and No. 5 in IWU history in career free throws made (345) ... No. 11 in both career scoring (1372) and career field goal percentage (.520, 505-971) ... No. 15 in career rebounding (510) ... No. 16 in school history in career field goals made (505) ... Majoring in business ... He is the son of Ron and Rhonda Kasten.
Jim Lehan, DeKalb (HS), sophomore
Earned his first basketball letter at IWU ... Averaged 12.6 minutes in 23 games and started in five, as a sophomore ... Averaged 2.8 points and 0.7 rebounds per game ... Had single-game highs of seven points twice (at Ripon, Millikin), 4 rebounds (vs. Hardin Simmons) and three assists (at Washington U, Elmhurst) ... Majoring in business administration and political science ... He is the son of Tim and Ann Lehan.
Ryan McCreery, Mason City (Illini Central HS), senior
Earned his third basketball letter at IWU, while serving as the team’s captain ... Played in 25 games and started 14, averaging 18.8 minutes ... Averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds per game ... Had single-game highs of 17 points (vs. Aurora), eight rebounds (at Benedictine) and six assists (at California Lutheran) ... Led team in scoring once and was Titan’s top rebounder twice ... Majoring in political science ... He is the son of Mike and Linda McCreery.
Shawn McGuire, Forrest (Prairie Central HS), sophomore
Earned his first basketball letter at IWU ... Averaged 14.8 minutes in 25 games and started in five, as a sophomore ... Averaged4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game ... Had single-game highs of 15 points and six rebounds (both vs. North Central) and five assists (vs. Benedictine, Aurora) ... Majoring in business ... He is the son of Tim and Wendy McGuire.
Chris Silagi, Oswego (HS), junior
Earned his second basketball letter at IWU ... Earned the Titan’s "Free Throw Award" for 2001-02 percentage of .787 ... Played in 25 games and started in 19, averaging 30 minutes per game... Averaged 10.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game ... Team leader in both assists (60) and steals (24) for the 2001-02 season ... Had single-game highs of 28 points (at Augustana), eight rebounds and seven assists (both vs. Wheaton) ... Was Titan’s top scorer and rebounder once ... Ranks No. 21 in single-season 3-point field goals made (40) for his performance this season ... No. 17 in career 3-point field goals made with 72 ... Majoring in elementary education ... He is the son of Richard and Susan Silagi.
Eric Starkey, Milford (HS), junior
Earned his second basketball letter at IWU ... Winner of the 2001-02 "Best Defensive Player" award ... Averaged 24.2 minutes in 25 games and started in 10 ... Averaged 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game ... Had single-game highs of 13 points (at Olivet Nazarene), 11 rebounds (vs. Aurora) and four assists six times ... Led team in scoring once and was Titan’s top rebounder five times ... Majoring in political science ... He is the son of Bruce and Sue Crist and Michael and Nancy Starkey.