Whiteland Warriors Basketball Season Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>On Saturday I made the trip up to Whiteland to see</em></strong> <strong><em>seventh year Head Coach Nate Cangany's Warriors practice. Coming off a 15-12 season including a 4A Sectional Championship, the Warriors have the tall task of preparing for life after the graduation of Ethan Edwards, a 6'5” guard that averaged 22 points per game and is now at the University of Indianapolis.</em></strong> <strong><em>With only two seniors on this season's roster, Coach Cangany has a talented junior class and a group of underclassmen that will be impact players for the program in the future. Here is what the Warriors</em></strong> <strong><em>will put on the floor for the 2025-2026 season:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY RETURNERS:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2622069"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69068ec2382dd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Joban is a confident scorer with an unorthodox game. Not the quickest or moth athletic player but is crafty with the ball and is able to get to his spots on the floor where he's most effective. Good three-point shooter off the catch. Defensively he's a lengthy versatile defender that can guard multiple positions on the floor. Will be a big time scorer in the Warriors offense in his junior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140455"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69068ec23838c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Heady lead guard that showcased elite court vision in the scrimmage portion of open gym. Confident with the ball in his hands. He's slippery getting to his spots and showed the ability to finish around the basket in a variety of different ways. He plays at his own pace and rarely gets sped up. He's in total control of the offense and is for sure going to have a big year leading the Warriors attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140412"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69068ec238850"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2140412' first='Kyle' last='Edwards'] was probably the most talented player that I saw at open gym. The do-everything guard showed the ability to score from all three levels. He's a confident shooter with good elevation that allows him to get his shot off even if highly contested. Off the dribble he's a crafty getting in the lane where he can rise up in the midrange or get all the way to the basket where he can finish with his strength and athleticism at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returner Unable to Attend (Football)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>• [player_tooltip player_id='2892568' first='Dane' last='Kunz']- 6'2” 2026 Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>• Peyton Williams - 6'3” 2026 Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY ADDITIONS:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2478770"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69068ec2388cc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A versatile piece heading into his junior season, Coach Cangany considers him the “sixth starter”. There will be games where he starts depending on matchups, but he's a lengthy guard that can play both guard positions. Really good shooter off the catch. Also showed good court vision and the ability to stop and pop in the midrange when ran off the three-point line. He's a high IQ defender with active hands and quick feet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Josh Longwe","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Whiteland ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69068ec23892a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Josh is a versatile, athletic forward that can really guard on the defensive end. High motor forward that defends multiple positions. Still growing into his body, he's a quick twitch defender that moves his feel really well on the perimeter as well as playing big on the block staying vertical. Still a bit raw offensively but showed flashes as a straight line driver and also the ability to make good reads with the ball in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>• Kaiden Lee - 6'3” Junior Wing (Unable to Attend - Football)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IMPACT FRESHMAN:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3033352"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6907f203608d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A high IQ combo guard that can flat out shoot it. Smooth and quick trigger from deep, he doesn't need much space to get it off. Smaller frame that will take time to adjust to the physicality of the varsity game, but in the scrimmage portion of open gym, he showed good playmaking ability and is a good decision maker with the ball in his hands. Will most likely split time between JV and Varsity, but will be a cornerstone piece for the program to build around in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2700688"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6907f2036093a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Steady lead guard that will be a really good depth piece off the bench. He doesn't get sped up. He plays at his own pace in takes contact really well staying on balance to finish plays for himself as well as others. Showed the ability to get paint touches consistently and score off the bounce. May have a limited role for the Varsity this season, but will be another key piece for the future of the program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>• [player_tooltip player_id='3033351' first='Dilraj' last='Singh'] - 6'3” Freshman Wing (Unable to Attend)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->