GCL South Preview

<p>The GCL South celebrated one amazing season in 2021. All 4 teams qualified for the District Finals with 3 advancing to the Regional tournament. While there was no state champion crowned, we saw some good things for the future out of Elder and Moeller. 2022 looks to be another exciting season with opportunities again for deep runs from all 4 teams. But who is the true favorite in the GCL South? Read below to find out.</p> <p><em><strong>Elder</strong></em>- The Panthers are bringing back quite a bit from a Regional qualifier a year ago and look to be a legitimate threat to dethrone Moeller atop the league. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1138753" first="Sean" last="Keller"]</strong> (Sr) is coming off an incredible junior year and AAU season in July. He’s got a great support group around him in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="921762" first="Andrew" last="Harp"]</strong> (Sr), a two-way senior, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1163451" first="Carson" last="Browne"]</strong> (Jr), a lengthy interior option, and <strong>Drew Busam</strong> (Sr) &amp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1201863" first="Sam" last="Whitmer"]</strong> (Jr). The Panthers do graduate some of their bigger guys which could pose a problem in the District and Regional tournaments. However, the experience and coaching is there that Elder should be able to return to the Regional tournament.</p> <p><em><strong>LaSalle</strong></em>- The Lancers surprised even us as they finished below .500, but found themselves in the District Finals with a win over Western Hills and upset on Lakota East in the Sectional tournament before ultimately falling to Elder. While the Lancers celebrated that run, repeating is going to be a challenge. Their two best guys from that team are now gone and leave behind questions of what this team can do now a year removed from that run. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1169529" first="Brady" last="Schneider"]</strong> (Jr) should be able to alleviate some of the headaches, but there’s no denying lack of experience and talent can be tough to compete in the GCL South. Do I think LaSalle wins the GCL South? No. But this team can be a threat come tournament time regardless of who they have.</p> <p><em><strong>Moeller</strong></em>- Moeller is going to look really different in 2022 after multiple state championships over the last 5 years. That’s not to say they can’t do it. But most teams don’t keep maintaining this success when 4 scholarship (3 D1) players leave the program. Good thing Moeller isn’t most teams. The Crusaders will have some youth this season but still have familiar faces. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="921744" first="Evan" last="Mahaffey"]</strong> (Sr) is a Penn State commit and will be one of the best defensive players in Cincinnati. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1090159" first="Nick" last="Williams"]</strong> (Jr) has looked solid in the backcourt in the past and now inherits this. It’s the sophomore class however where Moeller looks best. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1222360" first="AJ" last="McBride"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1222364" first="Talan" last="Noyes"]</strong> anchor this group and are clearly two of the best players statewide in the class. Moeller isn’t going anywhere in the race for the best team in the GCL South, but there’s no denying this could be a little more challenging year to compete with Elder and their experience.</p> <p><em><strong>St. Xavier</strong></em>- The Bombers turned a corner last year finding themselves in the Regional Semifinals and took Moeller to OT in that game. 2022 will be a tad bit different as 3 of the top 5 from that team are now gone. The Bombers have their second best player from a year ago returning in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1195129" first="Louie" last="Semona"]</strong> (Sr) who has exploded on the AAU scene and after having a good high school season in the Winter. He’s got <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1219838" first="Luke" last="Eckert"]</strong> (Jr) returning as well as some other pieces, but overall this group is not going to be as competitive as they were a season ago. The Bombers will compete come tournament time and against non-GCL teams, but will need more than Semona to knock off Elder and Moeller.</p>