Mundelein’s Brandon Bautista just needed an opportunity.
The 6-foot-1 forward played sparingly for most of last season. But Bautista’s minutes increased down the stretch, and he didn’t waste them.
“Brandon gave us a good lift in spots after we thought to see what he could offer,” Mundelein coach Matt Badgley said. “Whether it was making some shots or just keeping a ball alive, he made things happen.”
Bautista bolstered the Mustangs’ rotation and sent him into the offseason before his season year with confidence.
“Especially in the playoffs, I felt that I really contributed on the defensive side, taking a lot of charges and always being on help side,” he said.
“Knowing your role on the team is really important. You don’t always have to be the star player. Doing whatever you can do to contribute to get the team a victory is all that matters.”
Victories aren’t easy to get in the North Suburban Conference, which had four teams — Warren (31-5), Lake Forest (25-8), Stevenson (23-9) and Lake Zurich (22-9) — with at least 22 wins last season. Warren played in a supersectional, and Lake Forest and Stevenson reached sectional finals.
But Mundelein (10-23) feels good about its chances for next season.
“The senior class is a close-knit group, and we’ll have the advantage of having a bunch of upperclassmen,” Badgley said.
With next season in mind, Bautista finds time to get on the court each day. In addition to participating in Mundelein’s summer games and informal workouts, he goes to the local recreation center near his house or the school gym if it’s accessible.
“This summer, and even in the fall, will be crucial to my development,” he said. “With this being my final year, I want to do everything possible to be out there and make a name for myself.”
Bautista has a chance to do so in football, too, as a tight end for the Mustangs. The same physicality he uses to muscle past defenders on pass routes or to block on run plays comes in handy on the court.
“The paint is a lot like the offensive or defensive line in football,” Bautista said. “It’s a lot of physical contact and pushing people around. In football, you block with your hands and you keep them really close. Same thing with basketball — try to move them with your body, try to move them where they don’t want to go.”
It makes sense for the 195-pound Bautista to be an interior presence for Mundelein. But he can also be a viable scoring option.
He made two key baskets and had four rebounds in 13 minutes during Mundelein’s 53-51 win against Jacobs in a Class 4A regional semifinal. He then scored eight points, including two 3-pointers, during the Mustangs’ 65-46 loss to McHenry two days later.
Getting points from Bautista would help alleviate the pressure on high-scoring guard Derek Bishop, who will undoubtedly be the top defensive priority for opponents in his fourth season as a starter.
“He definitely has a nice shot and is someone we can count on to knock down open looks,” Bishop said. “The defense can hopefully be sucked in when I drive, and I can kick it out to him for open shots.”
Becoming more dangerous on the offensive end is one of the main items on Bautista’s summer checklist.
“I’m hoping to add confidence with the ball and taking my defender to the hoop,” he said. “By doing that, I have more options and create more space for a jump shot, which is, I feel, a big part of my game right now.”
Bautista, who has also started playing volleyball for Mundelein, has even more on his plate. He is vice president of the school’s Student Leadership board and is part of Best Buddies.
“The main thing that translates to all of my activities is the communication piece,” Bautista said. “Everyone has to be on the same page to work together efficiently, and that translates into how you play.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
