About a week before basketball tryouts, Bartlett’s Brandon Pelz still wasn’t sure if he was going to come out for the team. He had concentrated on baseball, earning a scholarship to Valparaiso.
He sat out his junior year for the Hawks after playing basketball as a sophomore, but the lure of one more go-around with his buddies became too hard for him to pass up.
“I was messing around, sitting in class, and I was like, ‘I might play,’” Pelz said of coming back out for basketball. “My friend was like, ‘Just do it. Let’s go have fun and see what we can do.’
“I talked to the coaches and they were like, ‘We’d love to have you back.’ So I was like, ‘Perfect.’”
The reunion has worked out pretty well for all involved so far. Pelz filled the stat sheet once again Tuesday night for the host Hawks in a 60-51 Upstate Eight Conference victory over Larkin.
The 6-foot-1 Pelz came through with 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot for Bartlett (2-4, 2-0). Joey Cwik scored a team-high 18 points.
Bartlett’s Brandon Pelz (30) drives to the basket as Larkin’s Jayden Bailey (24) defends during an Upstate Eight Conference game in Bartlett on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (James C. Svehla / The Beacon-News)
Jayden Bailey led Larkin (2-4, 0-2) with 18 points. Lawrence Sallis grabbed 11 rebounds.
Welcoming back Pelz was a no-brainer for Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith, who was more than happy to add another player with varsity experience to his young team.
“We didn’t know what he was going to do,” Wolfsmith said of Pelz. “A kid like that, he’s got a lot of things going on in the baseball world.
“Getting Brandon to come on out with his skill set, a different style of basketball, is great. It took a little bit to get back into the swing of things.”
Bartlett’s Brandon Pelz (30) drives to the basket as Larkin’s Jahvion Sowers (10) defends during an Upstate Eight Conference game in Bartlett on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (James C. Svehla / The Beacon-News)
Pelz admitted that he felt some fatigue in the season opener, but overall, the transition of his return hasn’t been very difficult.
“I remember the first game I was tired by the second quarter,” Pelz said. “The first few practices I felt pretty good. I was looking for my shot — found my shot.
“Defensively, I’m still trying to get there. I’m doing better step-by-step.”
Pelz was more of a distributor as a sophomore, but in his time away managed to hone his shot.
Larkin’s Ziayre Young (4) and Bartlett’s Brandon Pelz (30) dive for the ball during an Upstate Eight Conference game in Bartlett on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (James C. Svehla / The Beacon-News)
“I was picking up a basketball and shooting for fun and my shot got a lot better,” Pelz said. “So now I’m able to do everything, which I think benefits the team in every single way.”
Wolfsmith saw the change and pulled him aside after losing to Naperville Central two games ago.
“I said, ‘Look, you need to look for your shot more,;” Wolfsmith said. “You’re passing up too many shots. The last two games, he’s been looking for his shot. He has a nice rotation and a nice snap.”
Pelz hit three 3-pointers Tuesday night. He scored 10 of his points in the first half as Bartlett built a 32-21 lead and eventually led by as many as 20 points in the second half.
“We just played within the offense, found the open guys,” Pelz said.
Anton Wilkins, in his first year as Larkin’s coach, saw some glimmers of hope but is ultimately looking for his young team to jell.
“We’re learning,” Wilkins said. “I know there’s a long season ahead of us. It’s just wait and see and hopefully things will start cultivating.”
Bartlett’s Brandon Pelz (30) reaches for the ball as Larkin’s Mac Irvin (21) and Lawrence Sallis (12) battle during an Upstate Eight Conference game in Bartlett on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (James C. Svehla / The Beacon-News)
Pelz, meanwhile, has found a way to balance baseball and school work with playing basketball.
“It’s a lot,” Pelz said. “I’m doing a good job of getting it in.”
The future will have to wait a little bit, though. Now, he’s focused on creating memories.
“I have childhood friends out there,” Pelz said. “We’re having fun in practice — guys I’ve played with for years. It’s exactly what I thought it would be.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/brandon-pelz-bartlett-larkin-ihsa-boys-basketball/
