Even with only one starter returning and a younger roster, Kenwood’s goal is the same.
‘‘Win city and state,’’ senior guard Danielle Brooks said Monday.
The Broncos graduated seven seniors from their Class 4A championship team last season, so this largely will be a new group. Senior guard Amillya Henigan likely will step into a larger role, and Kenwood picked up transfer forward Darryelle Smith from Fenwick.
‘‘Me and Danielle have played against each other, played with each other, so she knows my style and I know her style,’’ Smith said.
Coach Andre Lewis said it has been interesting and exciting to embrace the challenge of building something new. The Broncos benefitted from continuity last season. The players more or less had a sense of how everyone liked to play, which isn’t the case right now.
‘‘We’ve got a lot of talented kids,’’ Lewis said. ‘‘We’re a deeper team. We don’t know from a standpoint of who’s going to do what besides our backcourt.’’
Brooks will be a big part of what Kenwood does. Last season, she drew attention as one of the best scorers in the area. Now, however, she’ll be relied upon as a veteran who has experienced winning a state championship.
Brooks has committed to UIC because of her bond with coach Ashleen Bracey. With that taken care of, she now can focus solely on her final high school season.
‘‘I know everybody is expecting what I’m going to do,’’ Brooks said. ‘‘Everybody’s going to come at me [because] I was one of the starters last year.’’
Brooks is the one known quantity for the Broncos. After her, the team is filled with talented players who haven’t proved themselves on the varsity level.
Lewis said freshman forward Zaire Lester will start. She’ll bring an imposing interior presence as a shot-blocker but also can provide some offensive punch as a shooter. Freshman center Janiah Daniel will bring a similar pick-and-pop element and also is able to handle the ball.
Having frontcourt players who can play in space is a luxury at the high school level, but it’s necessary for the Broncos, who like to space out defenses and attack the basket.
Kenwood will open the season Tuesday against St. Ignatius, which finished as the Class 3A runner-up last season. It’ll be a good early-season test for the Broncos to see how they match up against a formidable foe.
Lewis regularly packs Kenwood’s schedule with stiff competition. The Broncos also will face Loyola, Phillips, Benet, Batavia, Naperville Central and Homewood-Flossmoor in their first nine games.
‘‘I’m looking forward to seeing how we play and if we can execute against an opponent in a hostile environment,’’ Lewis said. ‘‘How do we manage that? Can we stay focused? Can we stay disciplined? Can we execute what we want to do and play how we want to play? Can we impose our will?’’
Brooks’ leadership will be key in that regard. She is reserved by nature but will be thrust into a more vocal role this season.
‘‘She’s talking with everybody,’’ Lewis said. ‘‘She talks more with the coaching staff, as well. So just that communication thing, she’s doing much more than she ever has.’’