Expectations high for Crean Lutheran boys basketball team under first year coach

Crean Lutheran Coach Austin Loeb addresses the media as Jacob Majok (left) and Hunter Caplan listen. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs, Samantha Burgett).

Crean Lutheran’s first year boys basketball coach Austin Loeb is excited to see what’s in store for his talented team, which includes a wealth of experience and the addition of an outstanding Division 1 commit.

Key starters return from last year’s team which was 18-13 overall and 7-1 atop the Crestview League standings under the previous head coach Nate Klitzing, who took the head coaching job at Orange Lutheran. Loeb has been the Saints top assistant.

To see additional photos, click on the first picture:

Crean Lutheran advanced all the way to the CIF Division 1 semifinals, losing to eventual CIF champion Los Alamitos before moving on to the state tournament.

“This my ninth year overall here at Crean Lutheran,” Loeb said. “I’m extremely blessed and excited for the team we have, especially being my first year, I think it’s definitely one of our most talented teams that we’ve had here at Crean Lutheran.

“We have nine out of 14 of our players are seniors and another two are juniors so we definitely have a lot of experience coming back from a Division 1 semifinal berth last year and we’re working to build on that in this season.”

The players include 6-7 senior Jacob Majok, who recently committed to UC Riverside, 6-3 junior Hunter Caplan. Both are team captains.

“They both exemplify everything everything it means to be a Crean Lutheran basketball player, when you talk about their intensity, their dedication and teamwork that both of them display on a daily basis, there is a reason why they’ve accomplished this much so far, I’m extremely proud of them.”

Other key players include 6-8 senior forward Will Malual and 6-3 junior guard Caden Jones, who was the Saints starting quarterback. Loeb said he watched Malual take “huge strides.”

Jones is “extremely quick and a great decision maker and a heck of a defender,” Loeb said.

Joining the team is senior transfer Chadrack Mpoyi, who recently signed with University of Minnesota. The 6-11 Mpoyi is considered an impact player who can be a big scorer, rebounder and shot blocker.

“He’s definitely a dynamic player and a difference maker for us, especially on the defensive end,” Loeb said. “

Senior transfer Nick Giarusso (6-5 guard) from Oaks Christian High School is also expected to be a big contributor.

Caplan said he’s looking forward to the team playing another challenging schedule. After opening Monday night at home vs. Calvary Baptist, the Saints have games Wednesday vs. Redondo Union at Taft and Saturday vs. Campbell Hall at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.

Crean Lutheran is entered once again in the Damien Classic and once again will be competing in the rugged Crestview League, one of the toughest in Southern California.

“I’m super excited for it, this year I’m a junior so I’m going to have a more of a vocal role on the team and I’m excited to be held to a higher standard and have more of a leadership role, our team is very deep this year and I think it’s going to be exciting watching us play,” said Caplan.

“We’re just focused on being the best team that Crean Lutheran can be,” Loeb said. “I’ve coached with and under a lot of great coaches, so I feel very confident in my ability to lead this program.”

NOTE: Information for this story from the OC Boys Basketball Media Day at Crean Lutheran. The other 14 capsules appear in a separate story.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com