Meet the Athlete: Luke Potnick

Luke Potnick, a junior guard, is one student who needed some good news. He was fresh off six months in rehabilitation working on his bum shoulder.

"I had a torn labrum in my shoulder," Potnick said. "It got worse after time and it would dislocate."

Surgery would help. And hard work. It paid off in the Elgin Boys Basketball Tournament on Dec. 19. With his healthy shoulder, Potnick slipped behind the three-point line and began to light up the scoreboard.

To the tune of seven three-pointers. That tied a school record. He had a team-high 25 points in the 65-43 romp over Francis Parker.

On the field/court: Of course, watching this three-point shooting show was Buffalo Grove coach Ryan O'Connor.

"It was great to see Luke have a game like that," O'Connor said. "When he gets square and on balance, he shoots the ball as well as anyone. He has the ability to score quickly and in bunches because he is not just a three-point shooter."

Potnick isn't shy about putting up long-distance shots.

"It was pretty good," Potnick said. "My shots kept falling. I don't have limitations to shoot. I'm confident I can hit that shot."

Potnick practices this speciality shot every day.

"That's my shot,'' he said.

O'Connor points out the junior is not just a three-point threat.

"He also has a mid-range game, can finish at the basket, and is great from the free-throw line," he said. "It was good to see him tie the school record for 3s in a game, but I would really like to see him break it some time in his high school career. He has that ability."

Was Potnick disappointed not to break the school record?

"Someone told me about it after the game,'' he said. "I was just trying to help us win the game."

Team update: The Bison win over Francis Parker was the fourth victory of the season. Buffalo Grove (4-8) dropped a tough one to Batavia 51-49 on Dec. 20. On Dec. 21, BG was handled by Dundee-Crown 71-45.

Off the field/court: Potnick tried most every sport growing up. He first tried hockey, baseball, football and basketball.

"I liked baseball and basketball the best," he said.

He was a catcher in baseball, and that took a toll on his body as well. Now with this success in basketball he will look to expand his skills in this sport.

"I haven't done AAU, but I think I will do it this year,'' he said.

Potnick has thought of the future. He would like to be a teacher.

In the meantime, it's all basketball for him, especially after this big shooting day.

"I need to work on my defense," he said.

That's true, but the fans are there to see Potnick hit those big three-point shots.

"My teammates give me hard screens," he said. "I have range from pretty far out. I don't shy away."

Oh, in his spare time away from the basketball court, Potnick has found something else to do.

"I like to fish," he said.