22-23 Lehigh Valley Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Year after year, the Lehigh Valley churns out teams that compete for state titles and sends kids to play college ball at all levels. This is a preview of some of the top upper classmen preparing to rep the valley this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6312828800e12","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alex Cercado","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bethlehem Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Team Final Red","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eCercado plays with a sense of urgency. The 2nd team all-area selection thrives in transition where he takes advantage of hit-ahead opportunities and gets to the rim with ease. He can get into the lane in the halfcourt but it's usually to create for others. So with Glassmacher off to Kutztown, it'll be interesting to see how Alex balances his scoring and facilitating.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Nick Ellis","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Freedom","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eThe Lehigh Valley rookie of the year in 2020 and 3rd team all-area as a junior, Ellis continues his steady improvements throughout his career. His physicality as an edge-rusher and tight end on the gridiron translates to the hardwood when he's slashing to the basket and defending. Nick's ability to space the floor makes him an ideal 3u0026amp;D wing.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1472577"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eDespite being a returning starter and committing to Rider University in August, Sanoh is still somewhat of an unknown around the state. The lob-threat and shot-blocker is progressing rapidly now that he's getting all the reps he can handle as the centerpiece of Executive's offense and the anchor of their defense.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1123885"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eCoval is only going into this junior season and he's already risen to the premier player in the area. For Parkland, he runs the point and cashes in his treys off the bounce. But with his Team Final EYBL squad he gets it done off-ball. The next phase of his development will be his playmaking.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1130840"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eA high impact defender who lived on stocks (steals u0026amp; blocks) as a sophomore, David could be one of the best all-around players in the area by the Winter. He spent the AAU/off-season applying his twitch and physical tools to the offensive end. In a few months, his 1-dribble pull up will be just one of many weapons in his arsenal.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1477720"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eRylan got playing time off the bench as a sophomore, but he's been running the show for the Raptors since the season ended. At Philly Live and their summer leagues, moved the ball well and knocked down threes. The key part of his game as a junior will be creating easy looks for Moustapha.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Josh Giaquinto | G ‘23 Bangor</li><li>Patrick Allieu | 6'5 W ‘23 Executive Education</li><li>Jalen Fletcher | G ‘23 Freedom</li><li>Ethan Almeida | G ‘23 Hackettstown</li><li>Darien Santos | G ‘23 Hackettstown</li><li>Craig Shipps | C ‘23 North Warren</li><li>Max Pristas | W ‘23 Southern Lehigh</li><li>Connor Duggan | G ‘23 Voorhees</li><li>Will Barber | G ‘24 Emmaus</li><li>Lamine Sanoh | 6'7 F ‘24 Executive Education</li><li>Brayden Housier | G ‘24 Palmerton</li><li>Matt Machalik | W ‘24 Palmerton</li><li>Damian Tyminski | G ‘24 Pen Argyl</li><li>Andrew Martin | F ‘24 Phillipsburg</li><li>Anthony Shaw | W ‘24 Wilson</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For more hoops coverage, follow me on twitter/IG @Cgraham_sports</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->