Early Season Headliners

Now that the winter season is officially underway, let's take a look at some players who started the year off with a bang. These early-season playmakers are turning heads and building serious buzz and have wasted no time in making an impact. Here's a look at some of the athletes making the strongest impressions out of the gate.    It is difficult for one of the top players in his class to raise his stock, but Levi Webb has done so. Webb entered Thursday as the leading scorer through the first few games in Class A, averaging 30 points in his first two contests. He scored 34 points in Papio South's win over Elkhorn North, where he had a ridiculously efficient shooting night and capped it off with a tough game-winner. He was 3/5 from three, 9/13 on twos, and a perfect 7/7 from the FT line. He has demonstrated it all this season, as he has definitely taken that next step to become one of the top players in all of Nebraska.   Webb is a dynamic guard who can do it all. If you need him to do the dirty work, he will do it. If you need him to be a playmaker, he will do it. If you need him to shoot it, he will do it. He is a tanacius defender and is constantly looking to make the effort plays. He has a very nice touch at the basket, where he scores off the bounce and has great footwork around the basket. He uses that footwork and patience to create space and make tough shots.     Haynes is another player who seems to have taken that next step, as he has been a force for Omaha Central to begin the season. He had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He is an athletic player who plays with a ton of energy. He is shifty with the ball in his hands, which helps him in the open floor as well as attacking the rim. Contact does not phase him, as he routinely finishes through it. He has also demonstrated great understanding and skill in the pick-and-roll. When you add on top of that his 40% shooting from deep, you get a player that can be tough to slow down.   Look for Haynes to be a name that has some buzz around it, as he looks to lead an Omaha Central team that has looked good to start the year. His combination of size, athleticism, handle, energy, and shooting makes him a well-rounded and effective player.     Melcher is a rising player in Nebraska and is only a sophomore. Melcher's calling card is his shooting. He is the kind of player that you can't lose track of, because if he gets any space, he is looking to fire. As a freshman, he was at 43% on over 130 attempts. Through three games this season, he is 11/24 for 46%, including a deep game-winner to take down Norris. He has a quick release and does a nice job of shot-faking to get defenders in the air.   Another thing I have been impressed with this year is his ability to complement his shooting by getting to the rim. He is crafty at getting to the basket and finishing. He is a player who will be worth keeping an eye on, especially as he gets older and develops physically.     While watching Garner, you can tell that he is a veteran who understands who he is as a player. To illustrate this, take a look at his 88%(!) field goal percentage this season, including a ridiculous 25/26 from two. He is a great athlete who makes an impact on both ends. He is great at finishing inside and demonstrates great touch at the basket. He has been a force on the glass as well. When you combine this with his ability shoot the three when needed (4/7 this year so far), you end up with the kind of player that every guy wants to play with.   One of the things that I noticed about Garner was that he does a very good job of finding the soft spot in traffic for guys to get him the ball. This is a subtle thing, but it is very effective and is one of the things that helps him be a difference maker even as a player who is not ball-dominant. He is currently one of the leading scorers in Class B, and figures to be a key piece for a Norris team that has championship expectations.     Meininger is a smooth player who never seems to be in a rush. This can be seen when he gets downhill, as his patience helps him to make the right decision, whether that is finding a teammate or getting to the rim himself and finishing. You can tell that he is intentional in working on his footwork. He is good in transition and good at finishing at the rim. He also has a knack for getting into passing lanes.   Meininger has exploded in Scottsbluff's first two games against Class A competition, averaging 27 ppg in both of their comfortable wins. He has demonstrated his deadly shooting ability, going 7/13 from three(54%). This is no fluke either, as he was 40% on over 160 attempts as a junior. Look for him to continue to put up some great numbers for a Scottsbluff team that has high hopes for this season.

Now that the winter season is officially underway, let's take a look at some players who started the year off with a bang. These early-season playmakers are turning heads and building serious buzz and have wasted no time in making an impact. Here's a look at some of the athletes making the strongest impressions out of the gate.