Naperville Central’s Alex Liabo had always been a two-sport athlete.
But that changed last spring, when he decided to give up one of his passions in order to try to perfect the other.
“I didn’t play football this year,” Liabo said. “I’ve just been focusing on basketball.”
His decision to put away the pads was a difficult one, especially considering the Naperville Central football team reached the Class 8A state semifinals last month. But Liabo, a senior guard, said it was the right move.
“I think it’s going to impact me a ton because I’ve had way more time to focus on my shot in the offseason,” he said.
Liabo was also able “to go to the gym, work out and lift weights, and was just trying to grind basketball versus play two sports and manage my time,” said. “I feel pretty happy with my decision.”
So do Liabo’s teammates. He has gone from bench player last season to starting shooting guard, and he’s a co-captain alongside junior point guard TJ Hillman.
“This kid, you can see the work is coming through,” Hillman said. “Him quitting football, I know that was a tough decision for him. That was hard to do, but it’s made his game so much better.”
Hillman, who is the Redhawks’ only returning starter, saw Liabo’s dedication up close.
“The one kid that was in the gym the most I’d say was Alex,” Hillman said. “Every time I came to shoot around, he was the first guy there, always getting shots up, and you can see the improvement. That’s great.”
Indeed, Liabo has been Naperville Central’s best player in the early going. He was named to the all-tournament team at Oswego’s Hoops for Healing Tournament, where Naperville Central finished fourth.
Liabo continued his strong play Wednesday night, when he produced 18 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two assists during the Redhawks’ 57-54 overtime loss to visiting Sycamore.
Twelve of Liabo’s points came in the first half, including three baskets on strong drives late in the second quarter as the Redhawks (2-3) built a 26-13 halftime lead.
“What I thought was going to be the turning point in the game was when he started attacking the rim early in the second half of the second quarter,” Naperville Central coach Mike Wilson said. “He does a little bit of everything.
“Most nights his three is going to fall a little bit more than it did tonight, but in terms of making up for it in other aspects of the game, he’s always going to get hands on passes, he’s going to contest 3-point shots.”
Liabo’s defense was one reason Sycamore (4-1) shot just 5 for 26 in the first half. But the Spartans, who didn’t lead at all in regulation, rallied behind junior guard Isaiah Feuerbach, who scored 22 of his game-high 28 points in the second half.
Feuerbach, whose sister Kylie plays for the Iowa women’s team, sank an off-balance, turnaround 3-pointer with Liabo draped all over him at the buzzer to force overtime.
“He had an unbelievable possession defensively at the end of regulation,” Wilson said. “(Feuerbach) just made a heck of a play.”
The result left Liabo less than satisfied.
“I feel happy with my performance,” he said. “I’ll take a good performance, but I just want to win. We’ve got to find out how to close out games. We have been up in two games and let up comebacks to send both games to overtime.”
The Redhawks split those games and are on pace to exceed their win total from last season. Hillman, who experienced that 10-23 record, is encouraged by the improvement and Liabo’s role in it.
“Obviously, it didn’t go our way today, but you could see it,” Hillman said. “He’s telling players what to do, letting guys know what needs to be done and how we’re going to win games.
“Our only goal is to win, and that’s what he’s trying to do.”
The trying never stops with Liabo.
“He’s the type of kid that we’re asking to not go work out after practice because he just wants to live in the gym and be in the weight room,” Wilson said. “Which, I’ll take that enthusiasm all day.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
