Names to Know in Toledo

Toledo will have a lot of players you already know when you think about this area but there are some players I expect to have big-time years that you may not know right now but you should. So here are the names to know heading into this season.    Young is a player I expect to have a big impact on this Whitmer Panthers team. I think he will have a huge impact on winning for them. He has a nice size and length for a guard with the athleticism to match this. He is good at getting the ball with some momentum and letting it carry him to the rim. He is a nice defender as well. One a Panthers team that will be trying to speed other teams up he will be vital in that. Young also added a nice jumper to his game this summer. This could make Young a real problem this year for other teams to guard.      Robison is a certified bucket-getter. He is going to be someone who will carry this Anthony Wayne with his scoring ability. He has a good first step and gets really low to the ground when he puts it on the ground. He then explodes up on his pull-ups and gets good elevation for his shot. He is not the tallest player on the court but this allows him to score against anyone. He is a high-volume shooter and scorer. He put himself on the map for colleges at the Top 64 in September and I expect this to continue for the Generals this year. Big fan of this kid's game.      James is coming off a nice freshman year where he made a nice impact with his high motor and defensive ability but now he is ready to take on a bigger role. He has a nice skillset as a slasher that sneakily will give you buckets. He is a nice playmaker that has a high basketball IQ. He knows when to be aggressive and then when to make the plays for his teammates. He is not the biggest player on the court but he has a ton of heart. A player you want on your team.      Wood is a big from Swanton that I don't think many can check his size and ability to move. He seemed to have slimmed down and that has helped with his athletic ability but still has a nice big strong frame. He is a physically imposing player that will make you feel beat up after the game. He is a monster on the rebounds on both ends. A nice rim protector that makes you think twice when going to the rim.     Poellnitz is the only freshman I am writing about in Toledo to preview the season and I think that should tell you a lot. He has a great foundation that will be built off of nicely throughout his 4-year varsity career. He is at St. Francis and I think this is a perfect fit for him. He will be someone who will attack and score in spurts but won't need to be the primary scorer. This will allow to affect the game in many ways. He can score at the rim and shoot it well. He is a sneaky great athlete. Can be a lockdown defender. I expect the freshman to make a name for himself in Toledo in his first year.     Priddy is a bucket-getter. The game is about buckets and he is a true consistent bucket-getter. He is super skilled and has a great understanding of scoring angles. He gets to his spots whenever he wants to and knocks down shots. He can hit shots off the dribble, with a hand in his face, fading away, and any other way that you can think. He will be the primary scorer for Lima Central Catholic this year and is someone I expect to be one of the highest points-per-game scorers in NWO. He is a talented scoring guard.     Bertke had a big year for Lima Shawnee his sophomore but this year I expect him to be a big-time player for them that will lead them to a really successful team. His size and length along with his scoring ability makes him a tough player to stop. He also plays the game the right way. He makes the second-effort play and has a simple but effective offensive bag. He will be one of the best players in the WBC this year.

Toledo will have a lot of players you already know when you think about this area but there are some players I expect to have big-time years that you may not know right now but you should. So here are the names to know heading into this season.