5 Breakout Players To Know (Recap)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past month or two, I have been tasked with helping find some of the next breakout players in the United States. On my search, I've seen all different types of athletes, play-styles, and coaching styles, depending on the state and the personal that is on each perspective teams roster.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the article below, I am going to highlight five players, from five different states, that are sure to have a breakout high school season at the varsity level this winter. Each player has a respectable resumé on the hardwood over the past few years with more to come in the near future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carter Marsden (AK) - 2025 - 6'4 / PF - Metlakatla High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"Marsden is a wing with length. He can be a slasher and also post up. He is poised for a big season. He has the ability to change the game solely based on his performance alone and seems to display the attributes of a born leader. The type of player that teams will need to game-plan for moving forward, if they want to try and control his production."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256578' first='Cole' last='Epperson'] (CA) - 2024 - 6'7 / PF - Jesuit High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"An individual that is ready to have a major senior season is 6'7, [player_tooltip player_id='1256578' first='Cole' last='Epperson'] of Jesuit High School. Epperson is a combo guard/small forward, that has size and skill when the ball is passed his way. In all of the major contests that Epperson competes in, he is always using his length over smaller defenders and knocking down shots from deep at a high rate. When he has space, his shot form is always identical to the last, giving it a good chance of going in. It's one of those shot forms that as soon as you see it, it makes you say, “Yup, he can shoot.” Epperson will play off of this elite ability this winter and leave it all on the court. There is no doubt about that. "</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaimana Lau Kong (HI) - 2025 - 6'6 / PF - 'lolani High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"Kaimana Lau Kong is one of the island's tallest players. Standing at at 6'6″, he moves well for his size. He has an above average motor and displays coordinated balance/footwork on a consistent basis near the hoop. Against the competition he has matched up with in the past and looking toward this winter, there is no reason to think that Kong won't have a junior season to remember. He will have a height advantage on most teams he plays and demonstrates having a good head on his shoulders. If his coaches can put him in the position to keep it simple at the rim, he will have a breakout year."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jermaine O'Neal Jr (TX) - 2025 - 6'6 / SF - Dynamic Prep Academy </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"O'Neal Jr has a diverse game. He is a 6'5″ small forward that likes to shoot the ball from all over the floor. There isn't a distance too short or too long for O'Neal. If he gets any space from his defender and time to set himself, he is going to let it fly and a majority of the time, it goes in. If a defender happens to jump at his shot a little too much, O'Neal Jr will notice that and adapt. Either taking it off of the dribble all the way to the hoop or to a closer, midrange spot where he can pull up. With the work that he is putting it, it could be a big season for O'Neal."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1156904' first='Drew' last='Murphy'] (WI) - 2025 - 6'4 / SF - Verona High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"You get a little bit of everything with Murphy on the court. You get a tough competitor, a highly skilled player, and a great teammate to the guys around him. There isn't anything that Murphy can't do for whatever team he is lacing up with. Like I said above, he has the skill side of the game down pat and he mixes that with his natural length. He is going to be a player that people out of the state of Wisconsin will hear about a few times this winter, as he is sure to make some waves with his Verona High School team."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->