State Tournament Preview: Class A Breakout Candidates

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #999999;">Photo Credit: Brad  Higgins // @bradhigginsphotography</span></p> <p>Lincoln- Even with the news that came down Wednesday morning that the NSAA Boys Basketball State Tournaments this weekend will be played in front of limited crowds that will only include credentialed media and immediate family of coaches and players due to the threat of Covid-19, we here at PrepHoops Nebraska will still strive to bring about top-notch coverage of the weekend in hoops. Here are some players in the Class A state tournament field who we believe could have themselves a breakout weekend in Lincoln. </p> <p><strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="890479" first="Saint" last="Thomas"] </strong>(Millard North)</p> <p>The Mustangs’ second-leading scorer on the year at close to 16 points a game, the 6’4 junior guard has been Mr. Efficiency for the Mustangs throughout this season. He also averages 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Thomas is capable of scoring at all three levels, but his favorite shot is definitely a midrange pull up jumper. A few D1 coaches have stopped in to see Thomas over the past month, and after this weekend there should be plenty more to come. </p> <p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="890572" first="Reggie" last="Thomas"] </strong>(Omaha Westside)</p> <p>A young and scrappy sophomore, the 6’ tall Thomas isn’t afraid to guard the best player on the opposing team on any given night. Thomas also had a good looking shot and takes very smart shots on the offensive end. He is also a very efficient shooter, who’s season totals are 49% from the field and 42% from 3 point range. Thomas is not afraid to make a play or get down and dirty on defense. </p> <p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="890571" first="Chandler" last="Meeks"] </strong>(Omaha Westside)</p> <p>Another talented young 6’ tall guard for the Warriors, Meeks is also a smart and efficient offensive player who shoots 56% from the field, and 46% from 3. Meeks is also very athletic and comes from a basketball family. While he is only the Warriors’ fourth-leading scorer on the season, look for him to play a crucial role in their state tournament run. </p> <p><strong>2022 Luke Jungers </strong>(Omaha Creighton Prep)</p> <p>Along with [player_tooltip player_id="890472" first="AJ" last="Rollins"], Jungers gives the Junior Jays a formidable inside attack as a 6’7 forward. The sophomore has held his own against a very good crop of metro big men this season. His minutes sometimes depend on fouls or matchups, but he’s shown flashes of how much potential he has in the future for the Junior Jays. An efficient player Jungers is above 50% both from the field and from 3 point range on the season. </p> <p><strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="946019" first="Brendan" last="Buckley"] </strong>(Omaha Creighton Prep)</p> <p>The Junior Jays’ third-leading scorer on the season, Buckley is a level headed off guard who when called upon can catch fire from distance. A smart shooter, Buckley is Prep’s second-best three-point shooter on the year in terms of makes, and sometimes can be lost in a defensive gameplan focusing on teammates [player_tooltip player_id="890375" first="Spencer" last="Schomers"] and [player_tooltip player_id="890472" first="AJ" last="Rollins"]. Buckley also has the second-most assists on Prep’s roster. </p> <p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="890589" first="Jayden" last="Dawson"] </strong>(Omaha Central) </p> <p>The 6’3 sophomore guard was inserted in the starting lineup towards the end of the regular season and he has been a spark plug for the Eagles ever since. Dawson loves shooting 3’s, and that’s the best part of his offensive game, as well as his overall toughness. On a team that loves to play with tempo and shoot 3’s, he is their best shooter percentage-wise at a 40% clip for the year. Defensively he can be a pest, has a nose for picking an opponent’s pocket, averaging close to 2 steals a game. </p> <p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="890569" first="PJ" last="Davis"] </strong>(Omaha Central)</p> <p>The other standout sophomore who worked his way into the starting lineup, Davis another tough guard who enjoys spending some time on the perimeter. Davis isn’t afraid to crash the glass on both ends and is a good defender as well with long arms at 6’3. He’s got a bright future ahead of him and could garner some extra attention making a couple plays this weekend in Lincoln.</p> <p><strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="945976" first="Danair" last="Dempsey"] </strong>(Papillion LaVista South)</p> <p>This will by far be the biggest stage Dempsey has gotten to play on since moving to Nebraska from Wichita this past summer. A 6’6, long and athletic wing player, Dempsey’s athleticism is what sets him apart from the rest. He can get to the basket with ease, and also has a good outside game as well. His long arms and athleticism have helped him average close to 7 boards a night as well. He’s the Titans’ 2nd leading scorer on the season and may have to carry the load for them if starting point guard [player_tooltip player_id="892650" first="Jared" last="Mattley"] is unable to play. </p> <p><strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="890486" first="Graham" last="Cassoutt"] </strong>(Papillion LaVista South)</p> <p>Another 6’6 junior, Cassoutt is the Titans’ third-leading scorer on the year and has shown the ability to step up when some of his teammates are struggling. Cassoutt may be called upon to have a bigger role in Thursday’s opening round tilt with Millard North. He averages just a tick under double digits at 9.8 points a game and is also shooting 52% from the field on the season as well as 40% from 3. </p> <p><strong>2023 Josiah Dotzler</strong> (Bellevue West)</p> <p>I have really enjoyed watching Josiah since I was first introduced to him at the OSA Fall League just before the start of this season. Dotzler plays tough defense and has a good looking jump shot. Though he only averages 4 points a game, and his minutes have wavered throughout the season, when you watch Dotzler play, you can see why he’s one to keep an eye on in the class of 2023. </p> <p><strong>2021 [player_tooltip player_id="890468" first="Frankie" last="Fidler"] </strong>(Bellevue West) </p> <p>Fidler has the body type of wing player with the handles of a guard. He uses his length at 6’6 to defend everyone from guards to post players, and on the offensive end, he can score at all three levels and get hot in a hurry. The third-leading scorer for the Thunderbirds, Fidler and his older brother Louis create matchup problems with their length and perimeter skill. He holds one D1 offer from Omaha and a big weekend in Lincoln could lead to a few more. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>