Preseason First Team All-Toledo

<p>Considering<strong> team success</strong> and one's <strong>individual influence</strong> towards winning, who will be the five faces of Toledo basketball this season?</p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/joey-holifield/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joey Holifield</a> (2020) | 6-2 PG | Cardinal Stritch</strong></h6> <p>Holifield, an Oakland signee, is the best offensive and defensive player for Caridnal Stritch. Not only do we see the Cardinals winning the TAAC, they also have a sneaky chance to be one of the state's five best Division III teams again. </p> <p>Holifield's leadership as a four-year star(ter) and production is vital to their nightly success. He requires everyone's as a slasher, opening up space and open drive-and-kick 3-pointers for his teammates. Defensively, he can also check opposing D-I college prospects once March rolls around. Controls the rhythm of games in getting to the free throw line with his physical and patient style.</p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dasean-nelson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dasean Nelson</a> (2020) | 6-7 PF | Rogers</strong></h6> <p>Rogers games figure to be the hottest ticket in town. Crowds should be electric and Nelson's high-flying impact on both sides of the court will swing momentum constantly. The wiry athlete is an earnest shot-blocker who also finishes with authority. He doesn't need plays ran for him, rather Nelson can find his buckets via the offensive glass and transition.</p> <p>Beyond the theatrics, the Rams enter 2019-20 as favorites to win the Division II Bowling Green regional. It's a region that includes one Columbus district and there's no telling who lines up from there. But the other Northwest Ohio contenders include Lima Shawnee, Sandusky, Shelby, Upper Sandusky, and Wauseon — all of which do not compare to Rogers' personnel.</p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zachary-szul/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zachary Szul</a> (2020) | 6-3 PG | Anthony Wayne</strong></h6> <p>Szul's skillset lends itself to being a high-usage playmaker at the high school level. He may swing the NLL race single-handedly as the best guard in the league. He has great positional size and the ability to get into the paint for high-percentage shots. Szul usually either draws a foul, converts a balanced two-foot finish around the rim, or makes a smart kick-out.</p> <p>If Anthony Wayne teammates can provide enough defense and outside shooting to complement Szul, they could finish with 17-plus wins — but it's all predicated by how much attention Szul draws.</p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jackson-sizemore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jackson Sizemore</a> (2020) | 6-8 C | Perrysburg</strong></h6> <p>Sizemore played his best ball during last season's postseason run. The 11th-seeded Jackets won three playoff games, making it to a district final. The upset-minded team was fueled by Jackson's versatile skill-set and defensive presence on the back-end.</p> <p>We expect him to continue causing fits for opponents this season. The 6-foot-8 unsigned senior can pass or shoot it when he catches on the perimeter. He can both spin or shoot a baby hook when attacking the rim. Forces the defense to make a tough decision when he sets ball screens. Finally, Sizemore's length and communication are huge assets defensively. </p> <p>Perrysburg also comes in as the NLL favorite with most of their contributors back.</p> <h6><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jonzell-norrils/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jonzell Norrils</a> (2020) | 5-11 PG | Toledo Central Catholic</strong></h6> <p>Really ever since they stepped onto Cherry Street, Central's 2020 class has been building towards this season. All of their starters are back and bring a great deal of experience to the table. No position is as important to chemistry, of course, as point guard. Norrils paces them, but he doubles as their go-to scorer in crunch time, too. His physicality attacking the basket is very difficult to contain. </p> <p>The only question around Norrils is fatigue. He's carried the ball for the football team an astounding number of times and the Irish football team may play another three games before he gets back to hoops. Norrils is the type of athlete who can overcome, though, which is why he's on the list here. </p>