AAA: Region III Preview

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">TEAMS</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pikeview, Shady Spring, Greenbrier East, Princeton, Herbert Hoover, Nicholas County, Ripley , Capital</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Preseason Players of the Year</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2437132' first='Jayce' last='Gum'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gum has proven himself to be one of the state's best. Add his long athletic body with a killer jumper and he's easily one of the top two players in this region, no question. Despite what he puts up in stats this coming season Gum will be a hot commodity on the recruiting trail as several coaches have trips planned to go see him play in person. Don't be surprised if he's not averaging 20/10 midway through the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2462309' first='Brody' last='Hamric']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hamric has time and time again showed why he's one of the region and state's top players. Strength, athleticism and skill are his three pronged approach to the game that allow him to play any position on both ends of the floor. Brody seems poised to lead this team to the promiseland this season and put Greenbrier East back on the map. Hamric, like Gum could easily average 20/10 but he has such a good supporting cast he won't need to score that much. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top College Prospects</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2462309' first='Brody' last='Hamric'], [player_tooltip player_id='2437132' first='Jayce' last='Gum'], [player_tooltip player_id='2561912' first='Riley' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2243481' first='De'Shad' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='2704995' first='Nathan' last='Dixon'], [player_tooltip player_id='2211912' first='JoJo' last='Greene'], [player_tooltip player_id='2306370' first='Matthew' last='Stellato'], [player_tooltip player_id='2869449' first='Gabriel' last='Neal'] [player_tooltip player_id='2849057' first='David' last='Robinson Jr'] [player_tooltip player_id='2683161' first='Ryan' last='Robinette'], [player_tooltip player_id='2508620' first='Nate' last='Vestal'] [player_tooltip player_id='2092029' first='Coby' last='Dillon']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">State Tournament Qualifier Prediction</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Greenbrier East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there's a year in recent history or in the near future that looks more promising for the Spartans to get to the state tournament I don't when it would be. They literally have all the pieces necessary to make a deep run and I would even argue make a run to Championship Saturday. The starting five is athletic, long and experienced with do it all stud [player_tooltip player_id='2462309' first='Brody' last='Hamric'], wing [player_tooltip player_id='2704995' first='Nathan' last='Dixon'], [player_tooltip player_id='2869449' first='Gabriel' last='Neal'] at guard, [player_tooltip player_id='2767400' first='Braylen' last='Godfrey'] at power forward and 6'6" center [player_tooltip player_id='2739640' first='Samuel' last='Hawver']. Sparty has size, long athletes, shooters and rebounders. Maybe the best lineup on paper in AAA. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Capital</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Capital has to get the nod here in my opinion with the upgrade in roster due to transfers from across town as well as how well coach Miller brought this group together last year on short notice and suddenly every kid in the Kanawha Valley wants to play here. Proof that every kid wants coached hard. Furthermore, the Cougars sized up with wing/forward [player_tooltip player_id='2211912' first='JoJo' last='Greene'] who also had a big role in the Capital football season. Along with Greene, [player_tooltip player_id='2243481' first='De'Shad' last='Williams'] made the move across town from South Charleston to take up top billing for guard/point guard duties. Williams has big time experience in big time games including state tournament. Cougars also return divison I running back prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2849057' first='David' last='Robinson Jr'] who is a handful for defenses to deal with considering his speed and strength not to mention elite athleticism. Bring back all those role players who had a big part in last year's success and you have a great recipe for a run downtown to the Civic Center. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Darkhorse</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shady Spring</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, I know I'll take some heat for not having Shady locked in as a tournament team, however I just think their roster is a bit young and depleted at the moment while programs like GE have been building the last couple years. Yet, Shady would surprise nobody including myself if they sneak back into the tournament just based on their confidence, moxie and experience. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Regional Roundup</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think this region will be absolutely wild come March. Its one of the most competitive regions in the SSAC in any class. I think there's a legit six teams who could make it to Charleston, but only two can qualify. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three elite athletes in this region could easily be a d2 athlete or higher at the next level in either basketball or football. [player_tooltip player_id='2462309' first='Brody' last='Hamric'] has D2 offers in football (QB) as well as basketball interest as high as LLD1. [player_tooltip player_id='2211912' first='JoJo' last='Greene'] has offers and interest in both sports as well as [player_tooltip player_id='2849057' first='David' last='Robinson Jr'] who holds D1 football offers but could easily crossover to basketball and play at the D2 level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This region has an impressive collection of 2028's who'll be coming onto recruiting radars once we get to the live period season. [player_tooltip player_id='2425395' first='Gabe' last='Short'], [player_tooltip player_id='2425394' first='Eli' last='Sexton'], [player_tooltip player_id='2311374' first='Kahsi' last='Morgan'], [player_tooltip player_id='2732795' first='Kai' last='Wade'], [player_tooltip player_id='2691768' first='Zayden' last='Farmer'], [player_tooltip player_id='2488807' first='Darius' last='Thomas II'], [player_tooltip player_id='2632516' first='Creed' last='Waskey'], [player_tooltip player_id='2854576' first='Kemonte' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='2425398' first='Kobe' last='Duncan'], [player_tooltip player_id='2627509' first='Jace' last='Bailey'], [player_tooltip player_id='2627508' first='Logan' last='Murphy'], [player_tooltip player_id='3191146' first='Charles' last='Boggs']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ranking the Region</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Capital<br><br>2. Greenbrier East<br>3. Shady Spring<br>4. Princeton<br>5. Herbert Hoover<br>6. Ripley<br>7. Pikeview<br>8. Nicholas County</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list -->