Greater Cleveland Conference Preview

<p>Things change, people change, seasons change, feelings too.</p> <p>Mentor basketball, though, still rolling steady. </p> <p>The Cardinals have avoided the pitfalls of the transfer market and return as the preeminent statewide contender of the Greater Cleveland Conference. Although, we must say, Shaker Heights and Medina pose very real threats to the Cardinals as both return stars at the guard position.</p> <p>These three experienced teams should jockey for top position and occupy all ten spots in our preseason All-League teams.</p> <h5><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>First Team</strong></span></h5> <h6><strong>Luke Floriea (2020) | 5-10 PG | Mentor</strong></h6> <p>A dynamic athlete verbally committed to Kent State, Floriea has an opportunity to facilitate a deep postseason run before beginning his college football career. Extremely fast and agile kid who is committed on both ends of the floor. Irritating defender with quick hands. Floriea is also one of the state's most dangerous outside shooters with the confidence to pull up from anywhere at any time, truly. Skilled finisher, too. Experienced. </p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dakota-cochran/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dakota Cochran</a> (2020) | 6-2 SG | Shaker Heights</strong></h6> <p>Cochran should once again check-in as the Raiders' most productive player. He's a knock-down shooter with his feet set. Also has the physicality to finish through traffic on straight-line-drives. Explosive athlete. His combination of power and quickness allows him to defend multiple positions and rebound at a high level, too. </p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/luke-chicone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luke Chicone</a> (2021) | 5-9 PG | Mentor</strong></h6> <p>Youngstown State verbal commit with an extremely high-IQ. Chicone sees the floor well and makes the appropriate play consistently. Possesses the quickness and ball-handling ability to dribble into tight spaces — creating space for shots while simultaneously opening unusual passing windows. Elite shooter. Controls pace and protects the ball. </p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/corey-tripp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Corey Tripp</a> (2021) | 6-2 G | Medina</strong></h6> <p>Tripp is an instinctual lead guard who balances getting teammates involved with his own scoring. He is, though, a true go-to scorer type of guard because of his ability to create separation. Strong and quick enough to defend wings at the high school level. </p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-piks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Caleb Piks</a> (2020) | 6-4 SG | Mentor</strong></h6> <p>Piks can play any position in this up-tempo Mentor style, as he possesses enough physicality to bang inside for rebounds while posing a speed mismatch once they obtain possession. Very active legs and shows moxie. Piks can score it from deep but has also greatly improved as a slasher. Experienced. Lake Erie commit.</p> <h5><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Second Team</strong></span></h5> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/danny-young-jr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Danny Young Jr.</a> (2022) | 6-0 PG | Shaker Heights</strong></h6> <p>Dynamic playmaker who provides both scoring and distributing. With one year experience under his belt, we expect Young to become a more efficient point guard. Shoots with range. Blow-by speed and flashes drive-and-kick ability. </p> <h6><strong>Chad Rogers (2020) | 6-5 F | Mentor</strong></h6> <p>Big-time baseball prospect who will take on a ton of interior responsibilities this season. Rogers is extremely powerful, yet mobile. Will provide a rebounding and defensive presence on the interior. Capable of pulling bigs away from the rim with his shooting ability. Finishes with touch. </p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kyle-szumski/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kyle Szumski</a> (2020) | 6-2 SG | Medina</strong></h6> <p>Productive shooting weapon who has become more effective when he puts it on the floor. Szumski can extend the defense with his range. Now equipped with strong shoulders, he is more productive around the rim. High-IQ team defender with experience. </p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/shammah-scott/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shammah Scott</a> (2020) | 6-2 SG | Shaker</strong></h6> <p>Crafty perimeter scorer who creates separation with multiple-dribble moves. Scott can take over games for significant stretches with his scoring ability. Big and athletic enough to defend most guards at this level.  </p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tre-massey/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tre Massey</a> (2021) | 6-2 SG | Brunswick</strong></h6> <p>Elite shooter who will enter his junior year as the focal point of the offense for the first time with 2019 graduate Kyle Goessler off to Hillsdale. Quick release, meaning he doesn't need much space to shoot it. Creating space for himself despite his prominence on opponents' scouting reports will be the challenge. </p> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Honorable Mention</span>: </em></strong><em>Sam Marbury (Solon), Marcus Steele (Solon), Marsaun Robinson (Elyria)</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Predicted Finish:</strong></span></h5> <p>1. Mentor — They had a realistic shot at a regional championship last season and bring back pretty much everyone besides 6-foot-7 forward Mason Trubisky. Rogers and Piks should be able to replicate Trubisky's value on the glass. Most importantly, though, the Lukes come back with one more year of experience under their belt and Mentor could be the best 3-point shooting team in Ohio. Finally, the group may have a chip on their shoulder after unexpectedly losing to Green in the regional semifinal.</p> <p>2. Shaker Heights — Shaker's physicality and talented trio of guards will make them very frustrating to play. Cochran brings and edge and efficient scoring while Young and Scott can ware out defenders as ball-handlers. They have the speed and athleticism to defend and beat Mentor. Shaker enters the year as one of the state's most underrated D-I powers.</p> <p>3. Medina — Guard play is vital in high school basketball and they have two extremely good ones, chiefly Corey Tripp. Even though the league is loaded with talented guards<span style="color: #3366ff">¹</span>, Tripp is still going to be un-checkable on most nights because of his ability to counter good defense and shoot off the dribble. </p> <p>4. Solon </p> <p>5. Brunswick</p> <p>6. Elyria</p> <p>7. Euclid</p> <p>8. Strongsville</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt"><span style="color: #3366ff">¹</span> Nine of our 10 All-Conference selections play guard.</span></p>