Way To Early Season Preview: Players To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Grassroots season gave us an opportunity to evaluate a ton of players that will have a chance to contribute locally in the upcoming high school season. Here's a chance to familiarize yourself with some players prepared to make an impact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1057884' first='Jace' last='Aquiningoc'] <em>5'8 PG Faith Lutheran 2024</em> <em>(#38PHN 2024)</em> - He's simply too good offensively to keep bottled up. I expect to see him with the ball in his hand quite a bit, and his ability to create for himself, combined with having [player_tooltip player_id='1020436' first='Graydon' last='Lemke'] serve as a floor spacer should allow him to put up big numbers. He's going to be one of my darkhorse candidates for state-scoring leaders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1057907' first='Andre' last='Porter'] <em>6'0 SG Liberty 2024</em> <em>(#45PHN 2024) </em>- Porter won a state title last season with Liberty, and has an opportunity to contribute even more this year. The sign of a good program is its ability to build a culture and develop talent. Porters' overall improvement should keep the Patriots as contenders despite losing their star seniors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1243526' first='Lonnie' last='Bass Jr'] <em>6'7 PF Undecided 2025</em> <em>(#12PHN 2025)</em> - Wherever Bass ends up, he's going to be a problem, if it's a state school you have to start thinking about them as contenders. He's one of the best rebounders in the state, with powerful hands and the ability to win 50/50 conflicts. LBJ has shown the ability to score with his back to the basket and improves offensively every day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='986960' first='Nick' last='Jefferson'] <em>6'0 PG Bishop Gorman 2025 (#11PHN 2025) (featured image)</em> - Jefferson looks like a player chomping at the bit. The two-way PG has competed all summer, going toe to toe against some of the top players in the nation. He's looking to use that summer as a springboard to the fall. He'll have the platform, playing for National Powerhouse Bishop Gorman. Jefferson is simply too good of a player to not have big performances in some of those games, so you might as well get to know the name now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1536414' first='Kollin' last='Mccoy'] <em>6'0 SG Las Vegas 2024</em> - Mccoy is from off the radar, but I had a chance to watch him play in our Grizzlies Summer Classic. He can shoot the ball and proved to be crafty enough to score. Las Vegas is losing virtually everyone, so there just may be an opportunity for him to have an impact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myzGGiKLLAI","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myzGGiKLLAI </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->