CVC Players who are Primed for a Big Season

<p>The CVC is filled with solid squads as four different teams won 20 games last season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="926737" first="RJ" last="Weise"] </strong>took home the conference’s Player of the Year and will be a tough player to replace for the Redbirds. The conference has plenty of players who are capable of leading their teams this season. Here are the top players in the CVC who should have big seasons in 2019-20.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="901991" first="Dante" last="Weise"], 6’1 PG Allentown 2022</strong></p> <p>Big brother Weise was fun to watch, but his younger brother is more than capable of picking up the slack. The 6’1 guard is creative with the ball in his hands and is hard to keep out of the lane. Weise rarely gets flustered when he’s under pressure and he has a nice release on his jumper. He excels at pushing the pace in transition and can rip down rebounds on the defensive end. Weise is a skilled point guard prospect who will lead Allentown’s offense in 2020-21.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1017709" first="Spencer" last="Kenney"], 6’4 SF Hightstown 2021</strong></p> <p>Hightstown has to replace its seven top scorers from last season, which should give Kenny more opportunities to put up big performances. The 6’4 wing can attack the basket from the perimeter and has a nice handle. Kenny is more than just a slasher as his range extends past the three-point line. He works hard on the defensive end and is an underrated rebounder. Head coach Don DeLeo needs someone to take control of the scoring load and Kenny looks to be the guy.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933645" first="Brandon" last="Raba"], 6’2 SG Nottingham 2021</strong></p> <p>The Northstars are the favorite to take home the conference title after an appearance in the Mercer County Tournament final. Raba led the team in scoring and should do it again with his ability to score in multiple ways. The 6’2 guard attacks the basket with a purpose and is unafraid of contact. Raba shoots the ball with extreme confidence and is at his best in transition. His ability to get hot in an instant makes Nottingham a tough team to beat this season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933639" first="Ryan" last="Smith"], 6’6 SF Robbinsville 2021</strong></p> <p>The Ravens won 20 games last season and they should do it again with Smith coming back. The 6’6 lefty is unafraid of contact around the rim and knows how to get to the line. Smith can attack the basket from the perimeter and has a good mid-range game. He fights for rebounds on both ends of the floor and is an underrated defender. Smith is a tough forward prospect who should led the Robbinsville offense again in 2020-21.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1017191" first="Jack" last="Croce"], 6’5 SF/PF Notre Dame 2023</strong></p> <p>Croce may have come off the bench for the Irish last season, but he is ready for a larger role this season. The 6’5 forward has a strong frame which he uses to finish through contact around the basket. Croce has an underrated handle as he is able to take his beat his man off the dribble. He is a solid rebounder and knows how to move his feet on the defensive end. Croce is ready for a bigger role in 2020-21 and should take advantage of more playing time this season.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Other Players to Watch:</strong></span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1035700" first="Arterio" last="Williams"], 6’4 SF Hamilton West 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1033133" first="Soren" last="Nyhus"], 6’9 C Lawrence 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1013031" first="Timothy" last="Evidente"], 5’10 PG Princeton 2021</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="931023" first="Mekhi" last="Gibson"], 5’11 PG Ewing 2022</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1012987" first="Jaden" last="Oldjohn"], 6’0 PG Steinert 2021</strong></p>