TRAC Top Players
In this article:
The TRAC is always loaded with talent and it will be more of the same this year. In these top players articles, I will give you who I think is going to be the Play of the Year in the…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe TRAC is always loaded with talent and it will be more of the same this year. In these top players articles, I will give you who I think is going to be the Play of the Year in the conference along with, the top point guard, top guard, top wing, top forward/center, and the top new name.
TRAC Player of the Year: Antione West Jr Antione West Jr 6'3" | SG Toledo Whitmer | 2025 State #132 Nation OH – 2025 – G 6’2 – Whitmer
Antione West and Coach Anthony Stacey were program changers for Whitmer and it was showcased last year that they are back to being the storied basketball program in the area again. I believe this year they will solidify that by being the best team in the TRAC and having the best player in the TRAC. West is going to be the point guard this year for Whitmer after the loss of Mo Purley. West showed this summer with All-Ohio Red that he can play point guard against the best competition. West continues to get better every time I see him play and I am excited to see what he does this year. I believe he will become more of a scorer and everyone will be ready to shut him down but he will make them pay with his playmaking ability. West and Whitmer will take their games to the next level this season.
Top Point Guard: Jake Bishop Jake Bishop 6'0" | CG Findlay | 2023 State OH – 2023 – PG 5’10 – Findlay
Jake Bishop Jake Bishop 6'0" | CG Findlay | 2023 State OH will run Findlay’s offense this year like an NBA veteran. Bishop already has a maturity to his game and is alright with getting the offense initiated and then not getting the ball again for the rest of the possession. Findlay’s offense is a deep and complex playbook and with Bishop running the show it will be a thing of beauty to watch. Bishop will also be one of Findlay’s top scorers this year, his three-point shooting ability and toughness will lead a helping hand with that. He is a tough kid and will lead by example and vocally this year for Findlay and they will need him too.
Top Guard: CJ Hornbeak CJ Hornbeak 6'2" | SG Toledo St. John's | 2023 State OH – 2023 – G 6’3 – St. John’s Jesuit
CJ Hornbeak CJ Hornbeak 6'2" | SG Toledo St. John's | 2023 State OH will be playing his fourth-year varsity with St. John’s this year and he is going to be asked to do it all for them. He will be tasked with guarding the other team’s best player in most games and then carrying the offensive load for St. John’s. The good thing for St. John’s is Hornbeak can do both of those tasks at a high level. His scoring ability is no question and when he locks in defensively, good luck. He is gaining more and more athleticism, which I am going to be excited to see add to his already high-level slashing ability. His game has matured greatly over the last three years of high school and I’m excited to see how Hornbeak plays this year. I believe Hornbeak is one of the top kids in the area and is the only one in the TRAC that will give West a run for his money for POY.
Top Wing: Ayden Carter Ayden Carter 6'4" | SG Fremont Ross | 2023 State OH – 2023 – W/G 6’3 – Fremont Ross
Ayden Carter Ayden Carter 6'4" | SG Fremont Ross | 2023 State OH blew up this summer and it was no fluke at all. He gained many D2 offers and interest and ended up landing with Walsh University. He does things on the court that others simply can’t. He is incredibly athletic and has a very good wingspan. Very good touch around the rim. Similar to Hornbeak he will be tasked to do a lot for Fremont Ross this season. Carter is a tough player to stop because he can do so much scoring wise and his playmaking ability is next level. He will have a lot of highlights this year for Fremont. His ability to take the ball coast to coast and make a play is something no one else in the TRAC has.
Top Forward/Center: Brady Lantz – 2025 – 6’8 F – Findlay
Lantz is a player that will win games for Findlay. He is a big mismatch issue for a heavy guard league like the TRAC. Lantz is a big kid with a big wingspan to throw to on dump-offs. One thing that impressed me is Lantz’s touch. He has a very good midrange game and that will create great space for Findlay in the half-court. Lantz is a young player and will be a new addition for Findlay in their offense and it will be interesting to see. You are going to have to find ways to get this kid the ball. He also moves very fluidly.
Top New Name: Jekel Cotton Jekel Cotton 6'5" | SF Lima Sr | 2025 State OH – 2025 – W 6’4 – Lima Senior
Cotton took leaps and bounds this summer. He did not play varsity last for Lima and this year he will be a vocal point of their offense. He grew a great amount in height this offseason and it helped greatly for his offensive game because he still has his guard skills. Very good handle on the ball and a smooth jumper. He cant score at all three levels. His growth spurt has hindered how fluid he moves but all of his atheism is still there. He is fast, quick, and has a good bounce to him. He will do most of his damage from the perimeter and he is just a tough player to stop that will have coaches in the TRAC wondering how to stop him.