WPIAL 2023’s Set To Lead As Seniors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the season less than a month away, its time to start looking at players who will be thrust into major leadership roles as seniors to eplace graduated players or prospects who transferred to other programs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1186057' first='Shea' last='Champine']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/shea-champine/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;</strong>| 6'0” | G | Bishop Canevin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders were a deep team last year and Champine was a role player but showed he was a capable contributor. With players like Jaden Gales(St Vincent) and Kai Spears(Alabama) moving on to college and the losses of [player_tooltip player_id='1621402' first='RJ' last='SLEDGE'] and Amari Evans to transfer, it will fall on the players coming back to truly elevate their game to the top level to keep the program churning under new coach Tim McConnell, who came over after a legendary run at Chartiers Valley. Athletic guard who runs the floor well and can finish through contact. He went from being the third option to having to be the heart and soul of this Canevin team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='991371' first='Madden' last='Clement']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/madden-clement/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;</strong>| 5'10” | G | Butler</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clement was a facilitator last year and used his high basketball IQ to run the offense. He'll have to expand his leadership even further with the graduation of Duquesne bound Devin Carney. He's capable of scoring off the dribble and pulling up. He's also an accomplished pitcher for the Butler high baseball team and will have opportunities at the next level. Losing Carney will hurt, but Clement returning should help ease in Donovan Carney as a freshman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1185952' first='Sawyer' last='Butler']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sawyer-butler/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;</strong>| 6'0” | G | Beaver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Butler is a composed lead guard who has no hesitation in shooting from beyond the arc. He moves well off the ball and is a good distributor in the halfcourt. He can finish at the rim with either hand but he's at his best when he can catch and shoot. Quick release on his shot. His shooting ability is a specialty that coaches may want to follow in his senior year. He'll be one of the top guards in Beaver County as a senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='991347' first='Jimmy' last='Kunst']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jimmy-kunst/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;</strong>| 6'2” | G| Highlands</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kunst has been a major player since his freshman year and has grown from a slasher in his early HS years into a confident and vocal leader—He's capable of scoring in a variety of ways. He can break down defenders off the dribble but can also pull up in transition or finish at the rim. He's a bundle of energy--a playmaker at both ends of the floor. Kunst averaged 20.9PPG and led Highlands to a 19-8 record.  He's also a top tier baseball player and will face a decision on which sport to pursue. He'll have some help from [player_tooltip player_id='1187999' first='Brayden' last='Foster'] in the frontcourt, but make no mistake, this is Jimmy's team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1186052' first='Adam' last='Bilinsky']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/adam-bilinsky/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;</strong>| 6'3” | G | Norwin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bilinsky comes from a basketball home. He's got a good understandting of the game and a high basketball IQ. Quick first step allows him to break down defenders. Smooth shot and range well beyond the three point line. He finds opportunities to complete tough passes into the paint and on the break. Gets up on the boards and runs the floor well—including the “perfect fast break”. Committed to Mercyhurst.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->