WNCAC Conference Preview
The top team in the WNCAC over the last few years has been North Henderson HS and a big part of that success has been from Austin Nelson. Nelson has graduated and is at USC-Upstate now. So the WNCAC is up for grabs. Here is a look at how the conference should shake out this season.
North Henderson HS-The Knights finished 26-4 last season before bowing out of the NCHSAA playoffs to Hickory HS. They return Darron Lammons, a 2018 guard that averaged 8.4 points per game last season. They also return 9.5 points per game from 5-foot-11 guard Kyle Decker and 5.6 points from 6-foot-1 wing Hunter Stackhouse. The loss of Nelson, transfer Kalin Easley and senior Markese Lynch will hurt a lot but Justin Paris will have The Knights ready.
Max RogersTuscola HS-The Mountaineers will be favored this time around in the WNCAC. They lose scoring guard Anthony Westhusing but return all-district player Landon Henley, a 6-foot-6 post player who is skilled and could be one of the best overall players in the conference. Also returning is Lane Kervin, a 6-foot guard who knows the game and has been around this group for a while. Sophomore Max Rogers is going to be key in how far they can go this season. Rogers is a deep shooting threat and has good size at the other guard position.
Pisgah HS-The Black Bears return one all-conference players that finished 12-2 in the Western NC Athletic Conference last season in guards Zeke Long and Mason Herbert.
Smoky Mountain HS-Return all-conference selection Tommy Brennan, a 6-foot-2 2018 shooting guard. He averaged right at 15 points per game this past season including 29 points against conference power North Henderson High School in his sophomore season.
Brevard HS-The Blue Devils return of 2018 6-foot-2 guard Ari Williams (14.5 points and 5 rebounds) and junior 6-foot-1 guard Breylon Owens (6.6 points) will be a key factor in how the season turns out. Also returning is senior point guard Terrance Johnson who averaged almost 5 points per game last season.
Franklin HS-A young team returns led by junior guard Andrew Terrell, the 5-foot-11 guard averaged 10 points and 3 rebounds last season. Also returning is senior Zach De La Cruz who put up 10.9 points per game and 6-foot-1 guard Brock Kloeppel who averaged 14.2 points per game last season.
East Henderson HS-This is another rebuilding year for The Eagles. After almost of their scoring is gone from last season, the only returning player who put up good numbers will be 5-foot-10 guard David Houser who averaged 6.5 points per game last season on a team that finished 6-18 on the year.