This is not what Grant sophomore Charles Schlicht anticipated.
As an untested first-time varsity player, the 6-foot-1 guard had modest expectations for himself as this season approached.
Then the games began.
“At the beginning of the season, no one knew who I was,” Schlicht said. “I figured I’d get a few minutes off the bench helping the rotation. But now I’m definitely on the other teams’ scouting reports.”
Indeed, Schlicht is one of the main reasons the Bulldogs (14-11, 7-5) have stayed near the top of the Northern Lake County Conference standings this season. On a team that includes junior guard Damarrion Smith and senior guard Braylon Gray, Schlicht is averaging 12.1 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Schlicht has scored 24 points twice, both times in wins, and put up 21 points during the Bulldogs’ 52-37 victory against conference leader Grayslake Central on Jan. 11.
“I’ve been mostly shooting threes or driving, but if I get cut off from driving, I’ll go with a midrange pull-up,” he said. “I think I do all three pretty well.”
Schlicht’s scoring became even more important to Grant after starting senior guard Landon Enters suffered a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 3. But Schlicht is proud of the additional ways he has been able to help the team.
“I’m hustling on both sides of the court and doing things like making the right decision with the ball, making the right pass,” he said. “I also realize how to match the intensity of these games. I have that extra gear now.”
Driving to the basket is nothing new for Schlicht, however. He has even dunked the ball during games.
“Getting to the rim is definitely something I’ve always been able to do,” he said. “I drive in there with confidence, even if I have to absorb contact and finish through whoever is on the help side.”
Schlicht also gives the Bulldogs a perimeter player who can crash the boards effectively.
“Nobody would pick him out in warmups and think he’s a guy who can put his elbow up by the rim,” Grant coach Wayne Bosworth said. “He goes up and gets a rebound, and all of a sudden he’s over a 6-6 kid. As a sophomore, it’s super impressive to see that.”
Also impressive is Schlicht’s preparation off the court. Grant senior guard Brandon Wolkowitz, a co-captain, is in a government class with Schlicht and said their conversations often include statistical analysis or numerical trends.
Schlicht also recently texted Wolkowitz a video clip of a look Schlicht believed Grant could utilize to counter opponents’ zones, something he probably wouldn’t have done three months ago.
“That was a great thing because it shows him taking ownership,” Wolkowitz said. “He understands he’s young and he’s not oblivious to making mistakes because they’re going to happen. But I tell him all the time that this will be your team in the future. I just try to help keep him confident.”
Schlicht is getting used to the attention that comes with that too.
“At our holiday tournament, I got a couple of interviews,” he said. “I didn’t even know what to think.”
Grant’s coaches think this is only the beginning for Schlicht.
“He’s had a great emergence, and it’s been fun to watch him develop,” Bosworth said. “He also wants to be coached and wants to get better, and you don’t see athleticism like that often. I fully believe that when he’s a senior, he’ll be one of the best players in Lake County.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
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