Conference Preview: Suburban Red
Conference Preview: Suburban Red
The Suburban Red is easily among the state’s most overlooked and underrated leagues with several terrific individual players and solid, well-rounded teams that appear poised for a playoffs team.
Liberty Blue Jays (20-9)
These guys will have to replace the loss of big man Alex Tison, a talented 6’7 post player who put together a terrific senior season a year ago, but they return one of the KC area’s premier guards in Washburn commit Jalen Lewis as well as several other seniors including 6’4 wing Logan Steenstra,
Liberty North Eagles (12-11)
North losses point guard Dominic Fragola who put together a strong senior season shooting the ball a year ago, but return several talented players, including a strong inside-outside combination of guard Robbie Hanson and post man Tyson Cathy.
Park Hill South Panthers (17-7)
PHS has one of the state’s premier trio of guards in 2019 PG Lamel Robinson, 2019 PG Desi Williams and 2018 SG Saadique Perkins. Poised for a breakout year is 2018 guard MJ Walker, who is a 5’10 guard. The. Panthers lack experience in the post and may run a five guard line-up this season, but they have terrific guard play and will be able to handle pressure as well as apply it themselves.
Raytown Blue Jays (19-6)
The Blue Jays lost guards Bryan Banks, Isaiah Burton and Marcus McGee, but return one of the area’s premier frontcourts in Mason Fair and Devin Drew, a pair of tough, no-nonse big men who also excel on the football field. Mix in Robert Proctor, a talented guard who often came in off the bench to provide a spark last season.
St. Joseph Central Indians (21-7)
The Indians were 21-7 last season and put together a great season, but they lose a ton from last year’s squad, including one of the KC area’s best backcourts Matt Austin, Jaiden Bristol who combined to average 34 points per game last season.
Truman Patriots (2-24)
Team won just two games last year and spent the season playing a host of youngsters. Those players will need to take a big step forward in their development for the Patriots to be competitive this season.
Players to watch
Tyson Cathy, 6’5, PF/C, 2018, Liberty North
Devin Drew, 6’4, PF, 2018, Raytown
Mason Fair, 6’5, PF/C, 2018, Raytown
Robbie Hanson, 6’2, SG, 2018, Liberty North
Jalen Lewis, 5’10, PG, 2018, Liberty
Saadique Perkins, 6’3, G/F, 2018, Park Hill South
Robert Proctor, 6’0, PG, 2018, Raytown
Lamel Robinson, 5’11, PG, 2019, Park Hill South
Logan Steenstra, 6’4, F, 2018, Liberty
Desi Williams, 5’9, PG, 2019, Park Hill South