Season Preview: Breakout Bigs

<p>Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way. The players in Nevada lost an entire year of their career last season, due to the shutdown of the H.S season. Many players were poised to use the season to make a name for themselves. As it stands, because so many players were denied an opportunity last year, it’s provided more opportunities for players to put together breakout seasons this year. Some players would have undoubtedly made a splash last year, while others would probably have had to wait until this season for their breakout moments anyway. In this article, we take a look at some Big men, poised for a breakout season.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1038162" first="Tommy" last="Brascia"] <em>6’7 PF Durango 2023 (#10PHN 2023)</em> - There’s going to be a lot of pressure on Brascia. Durango is a 5A favorite and will need the athletic forward to be a key frontcourt contributor. He has all the tools to have a breakout season. I firmly expect Brascia to become an instant fan favorite, because of his high flying dunks and relentless motor. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Durango isn’t good, and Brascia should be a key piece to the reason why. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="859663" first="Brandon" last="Enriquez"] <em>6’6 C Shadow Ridge 2022 (#25PHN 2022)</em> - The little-known Enriquez is on the cusp of being one of the top Bigs in the city. A natural rim protector, he runs the floor well, complete with the ability to get up and finish at the rim. He’s a clear candidate for the State leader in blocks, and his size, rebounding, and low post ability should anchor a young Shadow Ridge squad. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="986958" first="Anthony" last="Nwuli"] <em>6’6 PF Bishop Gorman 2024 (#10PHN 2024)</em> - Every successful team has a player like Nwuli. I don’t know how many minutes he’ll get for the powerhouse Gaels, but I know each one will be played with energy and effort. Nwuli is one of the most unselfish players in the state, routinely using his underrated passing ability to set up teammates from the high post. He’s a big strong kid, willing and able to throw his body around, banging with larger bigs and coming away with tough in traffic rebounds. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1057906" first="Cole" last="Ellena"] <em>6’8 PF Liberty 2024 (#12PHN 2024)</em> - Ellena could easily make my sleeper list. I’m excited to see how he performs under 1st year coach Kevin Soares. I evaluated him quite a bit as a young player, and his shot-blocking ability is legit. He’s in a perfect position at Liberty, getting a chance to play alongside top 2022 players [player_tooltip player_id="787643" first="Joshua" last="Jefferson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="859649" first="Aaron" last="Price"]. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="859649" first="Aaron" last="Price"] <em>6’7 PF Liberty 2022 (#4PHN 2022)</em> <em>(featured image)</em> - Outside of the Price family, perhaps no one is more excited to see Price take the floor than I am. The bouncy forward is a high wire act, that is going to routinely make highlight reels. His ability to defend multiple positions will also be key, as Liberty is poised to make noise in the 5A division. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="928924" first="John" last="Derrick"] <em>6’6 PF Foothill 2022 (#53PHN 2022)</em> - I’ve been waiting for Derrick to pop for some time, and this just might be the year. The forward has all the tools to be an impact player, and Foothill is a sneaky pick to surprise some people in the 5A division. The rangy forward’s ability to defend multiple positions, finish in transition and rebound will be key to the Falcons reaching their potential. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/7outzbballclub1">Follow Prep Hoops</a></p>