What to Expect Opening Night

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tuesday will mark the season-opening night for the 2025-2026 season. Let's take a look at some of the story lines and what to expect. Here are some potential storylines to consider:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Game to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Orem vs. Judge Memorial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a big matchup for both teams, and I love that they are playing against each other in Game 1. Orem has a few pieces to make a run at a 5A State Championship, and Judge always has the athletes to compete in whatever region or classification they get placed in. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matchup to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1926070' first='Massaer' last='Mbodj'] vs. [player_tooltip player_id='2306605' first='Simeon' last='Suguturaga']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of people questioned the rise of Suguturaga, and it was mainly because they did not watch his growth, and they did not value his potential. Look for the University of Utah Signee [player_tooltip player_id='2306605' first='Simeon' last='Suguturaga'] to have a big-time year. He has so much length, and he is a versatile defender. He plays above the rim, and with a mixture of perimeter play and inside play, he is a tough cover on offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Massaer is a defensive presence that can lock down defenders with his quickness and lateral movement. To add to that, he is an explosive player who can create offense with his defense. Mbodj can make a big difference, and this matchup will be great for him moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1724358' first='Troy' last='Kaufusi'] is an absolute gem who has been on the rise nationally. It will be fascinating to see how he inserts himself into the game and how he balances his well rounded attacking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1614839' first='Aymen' last='Ismail'], this kid could be a player who carries a team. He shoots the ball very well, and he could be matched up with Kafusi, which could be fun to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others: [player_tooltip player_id='1438933' first='AJ' last='Peek'], Arok Kuang, Lukas Skorut, [player_tooltip player_id='1724361' first='Inoke' last='Lloyd'], [player_tooltip player_id='2194686' first='Mac' last='Livingston'], [player_tooltip player_id='1278444' first='Kai' last='Wesley']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Sneaky Good Matchup</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Murray vs. Wasatch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams are very interesting. They both have key players like JJ Sere over at Wasatch and [player_tooltip player_id='1439714' first='Isaiah' last='Beh'] at Murray. Wasatch has some good pieces that could help them this year, and Murray always has players ready to step up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What to Expect</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect a fast-paced game from both Murray and Wasatch. Players like JJ Sere and [player_tooltip player_id='1960164' first='Nate' last='Hinckley'] could lead the way, potentially turning the game into a track meet with their dynamic offensive styles. Hinckley's impressive performance at the Utah Top 50 suggests he's ready to make an impact. Naish Hinckley, playing for Murray, will also need to step up his game this season. This matchup is a coin flip, but several players on both teams possess the skills to keep their teams competitive and excel on offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Injuries and Absences:</strong> Are there any key players that might be missing this season?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Contenders:</strong> Which teams are projected to be at the top of the rankings?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rising Stars:</strong> Are there any particular players expected to have breakout seasons?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Changes:</strong> How might new coaching staffs impact team performance?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conference Realignment:</strong> Are there any significant changes in conference makeups that could affect the balance of power?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->