Biggest Offseason Storylines: WCAC

<!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Can the Panthers 3-peat?<br>-PVI enters the offseason as a pretty heavy favorite to three-peat in the WCAC, with leader Jordan Smith Jr hungry to bring back the hardware in 3 of his 4 varsity seasons. The Panthers graduate some depth in the frontcourt with Womack, Moore, and Elamin moving onto their college destinations. But Coach Farello has shown the ability to reload with transfers (4 last season), I'd expect PVI to fill in with smaller pieces around the margins to compliment the group of returners that he brings back this season. Finding a knockdown shooter from the wing position and a true center will probably be at the top of the priority list. With his track record of success with continuity in his personnel groups, Coach Farello and co look confident in facing the challenge of running through the regular season with the target on their backs.<br><br>2. Will the Mustangs realize their potential?<br>-Newly-minted permanent HC Jay Gavin enters his first official season at the helm of a talented group, with 5 different players representing the Mustangs within the top 20 of their individual class rankings. I'd expect a few standout guards to enter the foray after spending their freshman year developing at the JV level, but this will be largely the same crew that experienced a slow start to the season before finishing with a flourish down the stretch--that run punctuated by a road victory in DC when they handed Gonzaga their first league loss. McNamara boasts arguably the best frontcourt in the state with juniors Woodard and Mills providing versatile skillsets, with the trio of Moody/Samuels/Duran providing plenty of offensive fire power from the perimeter. [player_tooltip player_id='2353549' first='Jordan' last='Taylor'] remains one of the strongest workhorses in the league both on the glass and with his slashing ability. Getting off to a better start will be paramount to their success, in addition to finding role players willing to do the dirty work that leads to success. <br><br>3. Does SJC have the horses to challenge for a WCAC title?<br>-A glut of guard depth on Military Rd is relieved with several key contributors moving in to college in Witherspoon and Barton. [player_tooltip player_id='1782663' first='Devin' last='Toatley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1969210' first='Geremy' last='Clark'] will look to build on the momentum from strong junior campaigns while rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='2353566' first='Oladeji' last='Olorungbohunmi'], freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2524394' first='Kareem' last='Smith-Bey'], and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2353547' first='Jymin' last='Veney'] will step into more prominent roles for the cadets. [player_tooltip player_id='1782593' first='Zyion' last='Chase'] and Finley will need to bounce back in a big way in their senior seasons to fill absolutely crucial roles as interior defenders, rebounders, and slashers that can knock down open perimeter jumpers. A quadret of rising sophomore guards in Larrañaga, Argueta, KJ Little, and [player_tooltip player_id='2552522' first='Jeremiah' last='Walker'] will need to make an impact in their minutes for their team to be successful. <br><br>4. New faces on I St: For the first time in almost two decades, the Purple Eagles won't be led by departing HC Steve Turner, who has taken the head job at Montverde Academy in Florida. Last year's varsity team was a top heavy group that featured a loaded senior class. So, who remains?<br>Rising seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1784445' first='Carter' last='Meadows'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1782769' first='Saxton' last='Simley'] should lead the way, with [player_tooltip player_id='2353555' first='Malachi' last='Terrell'] as the lone returning piece in the backcourt. Will the administration award an opportunity to one of the incumbents to carry on the culture or will they hire an outside candidate that could bring a different style of play to the nation's capital?<br><br>5. Who will shock the world next season to make the leap from the middle of the pack into the upper echelon in the WCAC?<br><br>O'Connell, Carroll, Ireton, Good Counsel seem to be the likeliest suspects. O'Connell over-achieved in the eyes of most last season by finishing fifth in the league with an upstart group led by Bivins. The Knights graduate 4 players from the wings and low post, how they replaced those outgoing pieces will be pivotal to their success in the league. Offseason priority number one should be a play-finishing big or a perimeter marksmen as the Knights often struggled to put up points to compliment a pretty staunch defense. Carroll's dynamic backcourt of Brown/Graves will continue to play with something to prove next season and could push the Lions towards the top of the league with more consistent play from their big men and shooting on the wings, mainly because those two are the primary source of perimeter shooting. Ireton gave several of the top seeds a scare during the regular season, playing a suffocating brand of perimeter defense that was often able to convert defensive rebounds into baskets at the other end. The Cardinals will need more sources of consistent scoring outside of Devonish to be competitive within the league. Good Counsel rounds out our group here, led by the talented duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2353544' first='Corey' last='Dixon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2353535' first='Izzy' last='Tchoubfong']. Dixon was one of a very select group of guards that got the best of the league's best defender/defense combo in Smith/Paul VI, scoring 25 against the eventual champions as a dynamic guard that can really fill it up beyond the arc. Fully expect Good Counsel to pull off a few upsets next season as Coach Kissell continues to get a lot out of this group. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->