THE FRONTRUNNER
Wayne Generals
The will be headed up by a pair of returning guards who may be the best 1-2 backcourt punch in the north half of the state, if not beyond. Senior Jevon Lewis (17 ppg/6.5 apg) and junior Chase Barnes (14 ppg) are both really dynamic scorers. The interior will again be patrolled by Trey Dillard and Ziare Sullivan with Dillard coming off a 9 points and 9 rebounds per contest season. Kharrington Terry and Preston Comer (8 ppg/8 rrpg) are also returning forwards.
Transfer Khalyn Williams-Thomas is expected to be able to help replace graduated Monte Smith. Williams-Thomas’ length and defensive tenacity is a big weapon to add. Wayne will also add Qualon Miles and Harold Mack to the rotation as they look to defend the SAC title.
“In order to continue to grow as a team we have to improve our half court execution on both ends of the court,” coach Anthony Brewer said. “We have learned that greatness hides in the details. So, if we want to compete with the best teams in the state our attention to detail has to improve throughout the season.”
THE CONTENDER
Carroll Chargers
Seniors Jaxon Pardon and Cannen Houser are among the area’s very best players and are both tremendous pure scorers; Pardon averaged 16.5 points and Houser 15 per game for Carroll. The senior class will also add some depth to the interior, headed by 6-foot-6 Grant Peters, while 6-foot-7 Evan Hall will also be part of the lineup.
Junior guard Jaiyre Sampson is also back after adding 6.7 points; classmates Tyler Morris and Paxton Crane will both join the lineup. Carroll will also get some help from the sophomore class. Brody Fisher is back after limited time last season, but at 6-5 with a solid build, Fisher could be a really tough piece. Strong shooting Miles Herring, as well as Briggs Pardon could add depth to the backcourt.
“The Chargers have spent the last two seasons becoming an “old” team. Our experienced backcourt and size up front will serve us well. Competing through the season of lessons and staying healthy, the Chargers look to compete in the SAC, sectional, and beyond,” coach Ryan Abbott said.
THE OTHERS (Listed Alphabetically)
Bishop Dwenger
While the Saints lost a pair of longterm varsity players and other important pieces to graduation, they do return two starters in 6-foot-7 Caleb Lehrman late season breakout player Aslan Nolan. Both of them will see increased roles with Lehrman a potential focal point as one of the tallest and most seasoned big men in the SAC after averaging 11 points and seven rebounds last season. Nolan averaged 4 points and 4 assists but is well known for his buzzer beater to beat Concordia and win a Sectional title.
The Saints will return four more with varsity experience in Ryan Groves (2 ppg), Luke Jacquay, Harrison Parent and Joe Schenkel. Up from the JV will be Brady O’Keefe and Eddie Miller.
“There is a ton of talent in the area this year and for us to be successful we need to be able to handle the defensive pressure teams will use against us. We don’t have two 6’8” guys this year so rebounding will be huge for us. Transition defense will be vital as well,” said coach Matt Kostoff.
Bishop Luers
A lot of eyes are on on Bishop Luers and their chance to once again contend in the SAC. While experience back is huge, the transfers in of Drelyn and Dereon Truesdale is eye catching. The twin brothers were a revelation of sorts last year at Carroll as very tough and physical players that get to the basket very well. But there are returners too, headed by three year varsity player Isaac Zay (9.7 ppg/4.6 rpg), who has been an important and steady athletic piece for this team since his freshman year. 6-foot-6 versatile forward Danny Kelly (8.4 ppg/4.6 rpg) had a great season that he is likely to build on.
Back too for the Knights will be Cam Mitchell and Wes Javins, while Zach Calderon and Brandon Busch are up from the junior varsity and the team adds Carmani Davis as a transfer from Concordia.
“There is a ton of talent in the area this year and for us to be successful we need to be able to handle the defensive pressure teams will use against us. We don’t have two 6’8” guys this year so rebounding will be huge for us. Transition defense will be vital as well,” said coach Seth Coffing.
Concordia
Two three year starters are back for Concordia, headed by multi dimensional Cole Hayworth, a Grace College commit who averaged 10 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last season. Avery Cook returns as well after a monster football season as a wide receiver; Cook averaged three points per contest for Concordia last season. Ben Bentz and Max Adair will also return after some varsity time a season ago.
That means the Cadets will lean on a lot of guys who primarily played JV last season. Seniors Sam Eggold, River Johnson, Luke Bultemeier, Gavin Bartkowiak and Chris Hawk will all look for minutes, as will juniors Will Schlegel, Jack Belschner and Noah Trent.
“We need to be very efficient this season,” said coach Phil Brackmann. “With a group that will include nine seniors and four juniors, we will need to execute plays and play tough. We will need to gain experience early on in the season to help hit our stride by the time the tournament comes along.”
Homestead
The roster has changed dramatically at Homestead with Alex Graber (2.9 ppg) the only player with varsity experience to begin the new season. Graber, who shoots the ball very well, is coming off a state championship tennis season. He isn’t the only sharpshooter that the Spartans possess with Michael Raudenbush and Owen Smith both in the lineup as well. Josh Rodgers is another steady handed guard who will see critical time, joined in the back court by Payton Rhinehart, Aidan Good, Marshawn Warfield and Levi Selking. Wyatt Weaver and Ayle Taylor will take over the front court. Weaver had a really strong summer and showcased his versatility as an inside-out player with good post footwork.
Last season, Will Jamison helped lead the Spartans to a Sectional runner up position while averaging a team high 18.3 points per game and team best 74 total assists for the season. Due to a recent car accident, Jamison will not be with the team as the season begins. We wish him the best in his recovery process.
“For us to be successful for this upcoming season, we will need to rebound the ball and defend
at a high level,” coach Chris Johnson said.
Northrop
The Bruins are in for a culture shift as former Carroll standout – and later assistant coach – Shane Merryman takes over the program. He will have a decent amount of Bruin experience back to try and build off of as he looks to repackage the Northrop program. Leading the charge will be 6-foot-4 versatile forward Dallas Lawrence (8.8 ppg/5 rpg), who is athletic inside and has an underrated midrange game to go with it. The senior will be joined in the front court by Jaxon Hughes and Hayden Lepley, a pair of also pretty versatile 6-4 forward. Donlaray Reese, Ahmad Salam, Javion Powers and Kobe Hudson lead an athletic back court that Merryman will look to quite a bit.
Joining Northrop will be athletic shooter Makhi Davis, a Snider transfer who has incredible bounce around the rim. Merseigne Mingshanga, Mike McCowan and James Browning could all see time up from the JV.
“Getting all 12 guys to buy-in to what it takes to be successful. Understanding the importance of
little things will determine how successful we will be,” Merryman said.
North Side
The Legends will have a great deal back but did lose heavy experience to the graduating class and with Brauntae Johnson injured and unable to play. Jaxon Fugate and Eugene Young are back and are going to be a whole lot to handle as one of the best tandems in Northeast Indiana. Fugate averaged 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season to Young’s 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. Javion Davenport returns to help lead the back court after averaging 5.4 points and 2.5 assists last season; twin brother Javius Davenport will help bolster the guard spot as well, as will the return of Rodney Jones. The interior will be patrolled by the returns of Jordan King and Da’Von Haney, while the move in of 6-5 Jakahi Rich from Smith Academy will add depth.
James Early and Jamari Pearson will be up from the junior varsity while freshmen Max Goheen and Tyvon Alexander will compete for time at the guard spots. Goheen, a true point guard, has a lot of hype coming out of his middle school time.
“For us to be successful we will have to be a great defensive team. We will also have to use our size and strength to be a physical team inside that is also a great rebounding team. We will have to move the ball on offense and our guards will have to pressure the ball on defense. If we can get the ball to our scorers and some other guys step up we can be pretty good,” said coach Gary Andrews.
Snider
There should be a lot of room for positional competition at Snider this year under a new coach but with a lot of returners and a few players who could be hungry up from the JV, with some freshmen mixed in to make things spicier. At the top, the return of Ke’ron Billingsley (11.9 ppg) is huge after he quarterbacked the Panthers to a football state finals appearance. Fellow returning seniors include sharpshooting Boston Conley (5 ppg), tough guard Nate Griffin (4 ppg), Jayson Hart and Jack Langas. The junior class will have returners Qualyn Clopton (6.8 ppg) who had a breakout summer in many ways and sophomore Sebastian Moore will return as well.
Newcomers listed by Snider include three freshmen with a lot of intrigue in Trell Hogue, Braylin Fertil and Ketron Paschall. Ethan Welch, Layne Patterson and Xavier Wilson all played JV last season but could compete for time this season.
“We want to get back to a defensive minded approach and we think this is the area we can make the biggest jump this season. For us to be successful, we need to compete daily, do all the little things it takes to win, and continue to build upon a strong offseason where our players have truly bought into what it takes to be successful,” said coach Josh Riikonen.
South Side
South Side will welcome in a couple of transfers at the top of their lineup, one of which they are welcoming back into the fold. Cadell Wallace, who started his career as an Archer, returns after averaging 14.3 points as the lead guard at Bishop Luers. Demarcus Barr, also a Luers transplant, averaged 8.7 per game last season. Javontae Bragg and Kaelyn Harding will join Wallace in the senior class, while the junior class will see the return of Aveirre White. Sophomore Zachary Belcher, who stands at 6-foot-8, is one to watch for a breakout season; classmate Jarius Timberlake is also back for the Archers.
Freshmen Javon Irby, Terrance Jordan and Corte Wallace could all see action as well.
“It should be a refreshing year with a nice mix of newcomers and incoming freshman that play hard, want to improve, and liked to be coached. We will rely on quality leadership and playing together as a team.
If our positive energy carries over from what they displayed throughout the summer, it will be a fun year
with positive results,” said coach JJ Foster.
BOUNCE’S SAC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Wayne
2. Carroll
3. North Side
4. Homestead
5. Bishop Luers
6. Northrop
7. Bishop Dwenger
8. Concordia Lutheran
9. Snider
10. South Side
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTHo
Be the first to comment