The 2024-2025 Forest Hills Eastern Varsity Boys Basketball team is set for a significant transformation. The conclusion of the 2023-2024 season marked the retirement of Coach Jason Yelding, who had been with the program for 20 years, 17 of which he served as the varsity head coach. This unexpected coaching change has not only altered the program’s direction but also brought about a series of changes for the team, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable season.
During the summer, FHE’s new athletic director, Robert Hull, extensively searched for head coach options. He landed on Davenport Assistant Coach, Dylan Liddell. Coach Liddell has experience coaching and interning at organizations such as Indiana’s G-League team, GVSU, and Trine University. This tremendous experience is unparalleled at the high school level and should lead to sustained success for the program. In addition, the team returns multiple key players with varsity experience from years past. Captain Cam Kennett (’26) developed nicely last season and looks to continue that momentum into this season. His sharpshooting and stellar passing should complement senior starting center, Will Overbeek. Overbeek’s presence in the paint cannot go unnoticed, and his ability to shoot the jumper adds another dimension to the offense. The one-two punch between Kennett and Overbeek should create havoc for opposing defenses this season.
While the front-court pairing of Kennett and Overbeek is elite, that doesn’t take away from Eastern’s young talent in Eega Ntanyl (’26). Ntanyl is an explosive point guard with elite ball handling, passing, and a stellar jump shot. He excels at getting to the rim and baiting defenders into a foul. His sophomore season was inconsistent, as he had jumped from the freshmen to varsity team in just one season, but he showed flashes of greatness in those minutes. If Coach Lidell and Ntanyl can work together to ensure proper development and work ethic, Ntanyl should be one of the rising guards in the area this winter. Kaius Peters, a senior forward, brings significant experience, strength, and rebounding to the squad. As his jump shot has developed, he has become a much more versatile piece that can play inside and out. The other guard that Coach Lidell will start remains to be discovered. Between young Heath Cleck (’27), sharpshooter Ben Fausey (’26), and senior Bryce Sullivan, Coach Lidell will have his hands full narrowing down this rotation. Despite the tremendous change within the program, the guys are confident they can compete as they become more comfortable with the new schemes that Coach Lidell has installed.
The path toward a conference title means everything to this boys’ team. Every player is determined to play their role in achieving their goals. Regardless of this season’s outcome, the young talent in Ntanyl, Kennett, and more at the JV level should elevate this team into a perennial conference champion contender shortly. As for now, working through the new schemes and building bonds on and off the court is at the forefront of the team’s mind.
