Unranked Players Likely for a Breakout Season

Every year, new young players are given a chance for the first time, to take a great leap between their junior and senior years, or find their rhythm and breakout years. This list contains a few players that I think are ready for breakout years, and will likely make it into our rankings by the end of the year.    Honorable Mention All-United Kansas   Johnson is a sharpshooter with a quick trigger and great range. He's a confident scorer who can score from all three levels while also being an efficient facilitator. Johnson's length and athleticism allow him to disrupt the opposition on offense. He is good at turning steals, loose balls, and defensive rebounds into fast-break opportunities on the other end. He is also a good rebounder for a point guard, who can convert second-chance points off of tip-ins.     1st Team All-AVCTL Division II, AVCTL Division II Defensive Player of the Year   Andover lost their leading scorer from last season, but Bradford and [player_tooltip player_id='1588392' first='Josh' last='Kim'] both appear ready for a heavier offensive load. Bradford averaged nearly a dozen a game last season as a third option and has all the tools to increase that total. He's a knockdown shooter, making shots from deep off the dribble, on the move, and when spotting up. He balances his shooting ability with great playmaking, hitting open shooters and cutters with precise passes. He's also a great athlete, capable of finishing off strong drives with dunks in traffic.     Stucky is the only returning rotation piece for a Maize South team that had 8 seniors last season. He has a large frame and great strength inside. Stucky gets great positioning on post-ups and offensive rebounds. He also has great court awareness and always knows where he is and where he needs to go. His footwork before and after receiving the ball in a post-up is textbook. Stucky has a long reach and good athleticism, allowing him to be a solid rim presence and rebounder.     2nd Team All-SPIAA   Moore is the definition of a floor general. He has a great sense of where his teammates are and when they'll be open. Additionally, Moore can execute pretty much any type of pass. He finds open shooters, hits the post, and runs a pick-and-roll effectively. Moore plays with a bit of flair, utilizing creative passes and a good handle to cut through defenses. His playmaking ability opens up scoring opportunities for Moore as well. He can look off defenders while driving to get to his floater. He also is a consistent shooter who recognizes when teams are overplaying the pass.     After losing their top scorer, Solomon will be looking to divide almost 20 points per game amongst their returning squad. As a freshman, Mattison averaged over 5.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. Mattison is a prime candidate to get more touches this season and further increase his statistical output. Mattison is an aggressive shot blocker, with good patience and timing when contesting shots. He utilizes his length to smother smaller players and uses his strength to wall up against bigs in the post.     Holt is a player who had to take a diminished role with T.J. Williams on the team. However, with a starting spot open, K'Mari is a prime candidate for a breakout season. He is an effective three-point shooter, knocking down 40% of his shots from distance last season. He is also a talented shot creator, able to create space and rise and shoot over his defender. Holt utilizes his athleticism and length on the defensive end, generating extra possessions and fast break opportunities.     2nd Team All-Twin Valley   Shaughnessy was one of Axtell's three all-Twin Valley members ([player_tooltip player_id='2169874' first='Brandon' last='Schmelzle'], Eli Boxterman, ranked #71 and #81, respectively). He is the youngest member of Axtell's big three and will look to join his teammates on our rankings in the upcoming season. Shaughnessy is a great shooter, who is always ready to know down a shot with his high release. He is also good at attacking closeouts, allowing him to finish downhill or make a nice pass to an open teammate. Look for him to continue to add layers to his game and produce for a team that is capable of winning a title in March.

Every year, new young players are given a chance for the first time, to take a great leap between their junior and senior years, or find their rhythm and breakout years. This list contains a few players that I think are ready for breakout years, and will likely make it into our rankings by the end of the year.