Johnny Roeser became an immediate impact player on the Carmel boys basketball team two years ago when he stepped in as a scoring threat as a freshman.
Roeser, now a junior combo guard, still gets buckets. He was second on the squad in scoring as a sophomore, and he’s one of four Corsairs averaging double figures this winter.
But Roeser now finds himself being asked to fulfill another prominent role for Carmel: As the Corsairs’ defensive stopper.
“It’s been a challenge, but I’ve been willing to take it on,” Roeser said. “That’s my personality. I want to be the best player I can be, and to do that you have to go against the best.”
In addition to trying to create scoring chances on offense, Roeser routinely has to check the top scoring threat for Carmel’s opponents.
Roeser’s new role is physically taxing, but it also requires a different mindset. Some offensive-minded players might try to catch their breath on defense in order to gear up for another scoring chance at the other end.
Those days are over for Roeser.
“Defense is more mental,” he said. “There’s a big scouting element involved, and some games I’m so focused on defense that scoring goes to the back of my mind.”
Case in point: The Corsairs’ 49-36 win against Nazareth on Friday in Mundelein. Roeser’s assignment was clamping down on 6-foot-1 sophomore guard Tagen Pearson. Roeser limited Pearson to two points and didn’t force the issue on offense, as hot-shooting teammate Evan Myers scored 19 points to lead the way.
“My height and length definitely help,” said Roeser, a 6-foot-5 Libertyville resident. “I don’t have the reputation for being the quickest player around, but my lateral quickness is good and I think I’ve got a high basketball IQ.”
His intellect helps him defend against players with vastly different skill sets as well. His tall frame, quickness and mental strength gave coach Zack Ryan the confidence to ask Roeser to step up on defense.
It also helped that Roeser was willing to add elements to his game in order to impress college coaches and help the Corsairs (10-5, 1-2 East Suburban Catholic).
“He’s evolving into a really good defensive player,” Ryan said. “We’ve got guys that can score, but defense is going to get us to the next level. And Johnny’s a big part of that.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
