Jesuit Dallas vs. Mesquite
Tuesday, November 15
7:30 PM - Walsh Gym
Live Stats l Live Video
Video Preview with Coach Hill

Tuesday marks the beginning of the 2016-17 Jesuit Dallas basketball season, when the Rangers welcome Mesquite to Walsh Gymnasium for a 7:30 p.m. tip off. A rematch of not only the 205-16 season opener but also last season's UIL 6A Bi-District Round clash, Jesuit returns a fleet of impactful players while welcoming several electric newcomers to the varsity ranks.
 
Last year, Jesuit finished 20-10, posting a 10-4 mark in district play. Six members of the Blue and Gold earned All-District Accolades, including four returners. Junior Michael Jankovich earned District Newcomer of the Year plaudits, finishing the season with a team-leading 15.3 points per game. Jankovich buried 43.9 percent of three-point attempts and was 86.9 percent from the free-throw line, closing out the year with 90 rebounds, 31 assists and nine steals, and was named to the Dallas Morning News All-Area Preseason Team.
 
Jankovich joins a back court platoon rife with All-District talent, including senior Mitch Prendergast, a second team designee last season, first team selection Marcus Hill and junior Reid Hatzmann. Prendergast, who recently announced his commitment to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, posted 9.2 points per game last year, leading the team with a 91.8 conversion rate from the charity stripe while finishing fourth on the team in assists (36) and steals (18).
 
Hill racked up 13 points per game with 71 three-pointers, adding 80 rebounds, 22 assists and 10 steals en route to his first all-district honor, while Hatzmann finished second on the team with 66 assists, adding 59 rebounds and 5.5 points per game. Senior Andrew Olinger and sophomore Max Abmas will make their varsity debuts this season, aiming to bolster a lineup that posted a 36.1 team three-point shooting percentage, knocking down 8.4 shots per game from behind the arc.
 
Five forwards will make up the front court contingent for the Rangers this season, a lineup which includes UIL All-District Second Team honoree Jacob Palisch. The three-sport athlete and Stanford baseball commit dragged down 138 rebounds last year while blocking a team-leading 11 shots, averaging 5.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
 
Senior Alan Garcia returns after an early season injury sidelined the power forward for much of the 2015-16 campaign, one that began with a phenomenal, 15-point, seven-rebound outing against Mesquite that earned Garcia the Ranger of the Week award. Garcia and Palisch will be joined by junior Jeff Grimes, who made several varsity appearances last year, and fellow third year Joey Preboy, who makes his varsity debut.
 
Jesuit faces a packed non-district schedule filled with intriguing matchups before beginning competition in the newly realigned UIL District 9-6A in mid-December. After Tuesday's season-opener against the Skeeters, Jesuit will face reigning 6A State Champion DeSoto at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 21 to start the Lone Star Shootout in Frisco, Texas. After the matinee against the Eagles, Jesuit will face Lewisville to close the first day of the two-day tournament.
 
The Rangers will welcome Plano East to Walsh Gym on Tuesday, November 29 before hosting the 2016 Knights of Columbus Bob Strass Classic from December 1-3, featuring several talented programs which include Frisco Heritage, Frisco Lone Star, Mesquite, Waco Midway, Fort Worth Southwest and 2015 Knights of Columbus Tournament Champion Amarillo Tascosa. District play begins on Tuesday, December 20, when the Blue and Gold travel to Coppell, Texas to face the Cowboys.