This senior member of Galesburg's boys basketball team brings 'incomparable' energy

GALESBURG — Galesburg High School's Dre Egipciaco doesn't like to necessarily be in the spotlight.

The senior would prefer to defer it to his basketball teammates, and Egipciaco, who dons No. 5 for the Silver Streaks, is sometimes his own worst enemy.

A wide receiver on the gridiron, Egipciaco needs to forget the mistakes he makes on the hardwood a bit more. It's something he's working on and aware of.

The 18-year-old is still maturing, if you will.

"I feel like the last few games I got out of my groove," Egipciaco said after Galesburg grabbed a 73-48 win over Sterling on Tuesday night in Western Big 6 Conference play at John Thiel Gymnasium. "I got in my head definitely against Moline (last Friday night), and I just didn't play with confidence. I just felt like my team needed me this game, and I've just got to keep playing with confidence.

"I get in my head sometimes when I don't make the right play or I'm missing too many shots I get in my head," added Egipciaco, who netted 17 points and had 11 rebounds against the Golden Warriors.

The guard may have a few difficulties maintaining the right mindset but Egipciaco brings life to the 19-5 Silver Streaks.

"Dre brings a heartbeat and an energy to this team that's incomparable. Dre has probably the most contagious personality that I've ever seen," Galesburg coach Chad Thompson said. "When he is locked in and ready to go there is no stopping him, and that's on the football field, that's on the basketball court and that's going to be in life, as well.

"I feel like I say it about all our guys but Dre is another great human being. Dre and his brother Alex (Egipciaco) are raised by a wonderful family," Thompson added. "We love Dre dearly. He's brought so much to this team and the fans for three years now at the varsity level for two sports. As a basketball player, he can guard anybody on the court. He's a great rebounder. Over the years, he has created a jump shot. He built it through hard work and dedication as a sophomore and you're seeing that pay off his senior year."

Egipciaco, who stands at 6-foot-1 and was averaging 8.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per outing heading into the week, does whatever is needed for Galesburg, and he knows his role.

"Dre's another one of those Swiss Army knife players. He does a good job of accepting the role that he's in and executing it," Thompson said. "He brings a little bit of everything for us and I think highly of him. Not only do I love him as a basketball player, I just love being around him because he's a really good person."

And what does Egipciaco, who has been playing basketball since the sixth grade, feel like his strengths are on the court?

"Hustle player," he said. "Playing defense, making shots when I'm open, making the right reads and being a leader.

"I just need to keep my confidence and keep thinking I can guard the best player on the court every time," Egipciaco added. "I need to not get in my head. I can't let my head get to me and just need to be a positive player for my teammates."

Matthew Wheaton can be reached at (309) 315-6073 or at mwheaton@register-mail.com. Follow him on Twitter @matthewlwheaton

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: IHSA Boys Basketball: Streaks' Dre Egipciaco unstoppable when he's locked in