4A Frontrunner: New Albany
The season is getting closer and closer and we are starting to dive into the rosters and Sectionals that will help to determine who are the top competition for each class. Today, we take a look into 4A and the frontrunners. We breakdown New Albany.
Last Year’s Record: 25-4
Head Coach: Jim Shannon
Top Returning Players: Romeo Langford (Sr), Sean East (Sr), Savion Southers (Sr), Julien Hunter (So)
Top Departures: Isaac Hibbard (Graduate)
New Additions: N/A
Why a Frontrunner: New Albany finds themselves in the list of programs that will contend for the State Title largely due to their success over the past few seasons. In the last three years, they have at least made it to the Regional Championship game. They were the Class 4A State Champions for the 2015-2016 season. New Albany is led by one of the nation’s top players in Romeo Langford. He does it all for the Bulldogs. Langford is known for his ability to knock down the long ball at a high rate but has shown he can use his athleticism and high basketball IQ when attacking the basket. He is easily one of the top players that the State of Indiana has ever seen. Although they lost a key contributor in Isaac Hibbard, Sean East and Julien Hunter will step up for this team. East can knock down the long ball but also looks to create off the bounce. Julien Hunter is one of the top sophomore prospects in the State and will show that his length and activity make him a huge asset to this team. With their proven success in the past and returning experience, New Albany is a clear-cut contender for the State Title.
Outlook: It will be imperative for players to step up this season. Team’s will key in on Romeo throughout the season and the Bulldogs will rely on other players to make plays down the stretch. New Albany will get off to a strong start with a key matchup coming in early December with Fort Wayne North Side. Two of the top programs and players in the state, Keion Brooks Jr and Romeo Langford, will lead their teams into one of the most anticipated games of the regular season. The month of December will be a telling month for this team with a flurry of tough matchups. Romeo will be put to the test this season as he looks to lead this young New Albany team deep in to the postseason in the spring. The Bulldogs will take some teams by surprise with Hunter stepping up as a key component in this team’s success for the 2017-2018 season.