Skaljac brothers are rewriting BBH basketball record books
by Dan Holland
Two of Ohio’s best stories on the hardwood floors this basketball season belong to the Skaljac family of Brecksville.
Steven, who is the youngest son of Greg and Stella Skaljac, helped lead the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School varsity basketball team to a 21-1 regular season record during his current senior year, while Luke Skaljac, a sophomore at Miami University, has helped lead the Redhawks basketball program to an unprecedented 31-0 record and a No. 19 ranking in NCAA Div. I Men’s College Basketball. Both are regular season school-best records.
The Skaljac’s eldest son, Eli, led the BBHHS Bees to their previous best regular season mark of 20-1 during his senior season in 2022. Eli and Luke (Class of 2024) were teammates for two seasons at BBHHS, while Luke and Steven shared the same pairing in more recent years.
“All the boys have obviously had tremendous success with the teams here at BBHHS, and they’ve all been pretty good players,” said Greg Skaljac, a 1991 BBHHS graduate. “So, it’s been a lot of fun over the last seven years that the boys have been involved in the high school program, starting with Eli as a sophomore.”
Between Steven and Luke’s games this season, the Skaljac parents have logged many miles by car and through the air. The couple has only missed a handful of games this season between Luke and Steven.
“I am incredibly proud of my three boys, as they are hardworking, supportive of one another, and grounded young men,” said Stella Skaljac, a 1993 BBHHS graduate. “As a mom of three sons who all love the game, it has been such a joy to watch them grow, compete and develop over the years.”
“Eli set the tone as the oldest, becoming a strong leader, standout player in high school and founder of a summer youth basketball training camp,” she continued. “Luke pushed himself to the next level and continues to showcase his talents playing on a D-I college team that is making basketball history. Steven, inspired by his older brothers, is having his best basketball season yet as a senior, and is showing tremendous confidence and leadership.”
Greg Skaljac gives much of the credit for the continuing success of the BBHHS basketball program to his longtime friend, Steve Mehalik, who is in his 19th season as head varsity basketball coach. The two were basketball team captains together during their years at BBHHS.
“Steve [Mehalik] has been a lifelong friend going back to the fifth grade,” Skaljac recalled. “We played a lot of basketball together and talked a lot of hoops over the years, and it’s been great having him coach the boys over the years.”
“He has an unbelievable passion for the Bees and for the program, and he’s done a great job with the amount of time in the offseason, as he and the assistant coaches work with these players all year-round, which shows in the types of teams and players they’ve had over the years.”
All of the Skaljac brothers look fondly on their time in the Bees’ basketball program.
“What I enjoyed most about my basketball career had to be my senior season; not only breaking school records, but playing with my brother and many lifelong friends,” said Eli Skaljac. “I have countless memories from that season, and we played the game how it’s supposed to be played.”
While enjoying his years at BBHHS, Luke Skaljac is looking ahead to a possible berth for his college team in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament this season. “I really enjoyed building friendships and memories through my journey at BBHHS and sharing the court with both my older and younger brothers,” he said.
Steven Skaljac, who scored his 1000th point this season for the Bees, said he will miss his time playing at BBHHS. “I just enjoy playing and hanging out with my friends every day and our annual basketball trips to Florida with the team.”
Mehalik credits the efforts of his players with much of the program’s continued success over the years.
“When you have really good players, you most likely will be a really good team,” said Mehalik. “We have been blessed to have some amazing Bees basketball families through the years, and the Skaljacs are at the top of it. As good as the boys are, they could have played at any of the area’s best private schools, but they chose to stay here, as they bleed red and yellow.”
“Luke has been an integral part of the Miami University Men’s Basketball rebuild,” said Miami University Head Basketball Coach Travis Steele. ”He has been a part of the two most-winning seasons ever in Miami University history.”
“He plays with a confidence and swagger that makes him one of the best guards in the country,” he added. “He has a special ability to take over games in the crunch time, along with making his teammates better.“ “Seeing the amount of work and time they put in, and seeing it come to fruition when they’re having that success, is all a testament to the blood, sweat and tears they put into it year-round,” said Greg Skaljac. “My boys have all put in the time and work, and they all had varying degrees of success, both as individuals and as a team, and they’re having fun doing it. That’s the biggest thing.”
Photo caption: Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School senior Steven Skaljac and his brother, Luke, a 2024 BBHHS grad who is now sophomore at Miami University, helped lead their respective basketball teams to record-setting seasons this year. The Skaljac’s older brother, Eli, has his own claim to fame, helping lead the BBHHS Bees to its previous best regular season of 20-1 during his senior year in 2022. Photos submitted.