3A Southern Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Playoffs</strong> <strong>Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater East Academy <em>16-7</em>, Democracy Prep Agassi Campus <em>19-7</em>, Boulder City <em>20-5</em>, The Meadows School <em>20-8</em>, Moapa Valley <em>8-19</em>, Virgin Valley <em>14-11</em>, Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas <em>12-10</em>, Sports Leadership and Management <em>12-15 </em><br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks<br><br>1. Democracy Prep Agassi Campus</strong> - The defending champs will look to stay on top, and return many of their key players from last year. They also brought in a very talented freshman class and a few of the freshman will get minutes this season. From what I have seen in their preseason play, they have a high powered offense that will be tough to keep up with. [player_tooltip player_id='1529852' first='Josiah' last='Stroughter'] was their leading scorer last year, averaging 14.9 PPG. Guys like [player_tooltip player_id='2374248' first='Dashaun' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1529853' first='Tai' last='Coleman'] are also going to fill it up for the Blue Knights. If they can play as a unit on defense, there is a great chance they defend the crown. Right now, they are my favorite to win it all. <br><br><strong>2. Mater East Academy</strong> - After falling just one point short in last year's State Championship, Mater East Academy is hungry to get back there and win it all this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1243525' first='Miles' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1243526' first='Lonnie' last='Bass Jr']. are their veterans, and also look to be their leading scorers this year. Rising sophomore Keshaun Brooks is another guy who will be a key contributor this year. With all the size and length that Mater East Academy has, they may be able to knock off the champs. <br><br><strong>3. Boulder City</strong> - Boulder City had a great regular season last year before losing to Mater East Academy in the playoffs, 73-52. For them to have another successful season, they will need their shooters [player_tooltip player_id='2263756' first='Sean' last='Pendleton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1670308' first='Luke' last='Wright'] to fill it up. If they can leverage their team chemistry and shoot at a high percentage, they should be able to make another playoff run. Will they be able to take down Mater East Academy or Democracy Prep to have a crack at the championship? Time will tell, but at the moment I believe they fall in the semi-finals to Mater or DPAC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. The Meadows School</strong> - The Meadows School will look to replicate last season's regular season. Cyrus Hutchison was the League's leading scorer last year and left for Brewster Academy. They will need some of their other starters to step up. immediately. I have liked what I have seen from [player_tooltip player_id='2280840' first='Uzo' last='Nwapa'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2050108' first='Ethan' last='Fink'] in the preseason and I'm hoping they continue to play well. <br><br><strong>5.</strong> <strong>Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='2877334' first='Clinton' last='Ezugha'] was the leading scorer in all of 3A last year and it seems likely that he'll keep his scoring title this season. While I'm sure that's one of his goals, I'm also guessing that he would like to get Coral Academy past the first round of the playoffs. Look [player_tooltip player_id='2799066' first='Jayden' last='Aranas'] (Junior) and Kaleb Ellliot (Junior) should also be key contributors this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Virgin Valley Basketball</strong> - Malachai Davis (9.9 PPG) and [player_tooltip player_id='2277065' first='Elian' last='Pinto'] (9.1 PPG) were both sophomores last year and are now juniors. With more experience under their belt, I believe that Virgin Valley should be able to win a few more games than last year. They will likely need one or two more guys to score on offense. Parker Jenson (also a sophomore) and Corbain Waite could be those guys. Parker might also lead them in assists this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Moapa Valley</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id='1988916' first='Bryson' last='Walker'] (Junior), Moapa Valley's leading scorer in 2023-2024, returns. As does [player_tooltip player_id='2797827' first='Brigham' last='Whitmore'] (Junior) and [player_tooltip player_id='2806773' first='Jaxson' last='Bunker'] (Sophomore). With 3 returning starters, Moapa Valley definitely has the chance to outdo last year's 8-19 record. However going deep into the playoffs will still be a tall task. <br><br><strong>8. Sports Leader and Management</strong> - SLAM will need a few guys to step up this year since Andre Cade (19.7 PPG) and Noah Tomlin (14.1 PPG) graduated last spring. Expect Kali Clemons and Alaijah Young to be the new leaders. It may be hard for them to perform at the level they did last year, but they still might be able to make the playoffs since they have a few other returning players. <br><br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2877334' first='Clinton' last='Ezugha'] <strong><em>17.3 PPG </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1670308' first='Luke' last='Wright'] - <strong><em>16.1 PPG</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1988916' first='Bryson' last='Walker'] - <strong><em>15 PPG</em></strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1529852' first='Josiah' last='Stroughter'] - <strong><em>14.9 PPG</em></strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1529853' first='Tai' last='Coleman'] - <em><strong>14.2 PPG</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1243526' first='Lonnie' last='Bass Jr']. <strong><em>12.5 PPG</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2263756' first='Sean' last='Pendleton'] <em><strong>11.9 PPG</strong></em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1965364' first='Dion' last='Parker'] <strong><em>10.3 PPG</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1529852' first='Josiah' last='Stroughter'] - Democracy Prep Agassi Campus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1243525' first='Miles' last='Williams'] - Mater East Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1670308' first='Luke' last='Wright'] - Boulder City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1965364' first='Dion' last='Parker'] - Democracy Prep Agassi Campus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1243526' first='Lonnie' last='Bass Jr']. - Mater East Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2374248' first='Dashaun' last='Harris'] - Democracy Prep Agassi Campus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2263756' first='Sean' last='Pendleton'] - Boulder City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2280840' first='Uzo' last='Nwapa'] - The Meadows School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keshaun Brooks - Mater East Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kendon Jones - Mater East Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><br><strong>Best of the Best</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1670308' first='Luke' last='Wright'] - Boulder City <br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1243526' first='Lonnie' last='Bass Jr']. - Mater East Academy<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> Kendon Jones - Mater East Academy<br><strong>Best College Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2374248' first='Dashaun' last='Harris'] - Democracy Prep Agassi Campus<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> KJ Brooks - Mater East Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->