EPL WRA: Friday Stock Risers

I attended the opening day of Elite Prep League action this weekend, hosted by Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. In this article I'll take a look at six stock risers who impressed me on Friday.    Massanutten is one of the top teams in the entire EPL and they secured a crucial league victory on Friday afternoon. Tricot impressed me with a handful of corner 3-pointers, good positional size and he played with a little swagger offensively when attacking off the dribble and taking perimeter shots. Under the radar name from south america, Tricot should be on Division I and II radars due to his floor spacing ability from the power forward position.     I'm a big fan of the offensive juice Sergi plays with, getting downhill with ease off the dribble and playing with a unique rhythm and pace to his game that is tough for defenses to react to. When Sergi can get downhill he is at his most dangerous as he's efficient in the paint and from the mid-range area with his ability to shoot over smaller guards with soft touch. I also like Sergi's ability to play as a pick and roll ball handler, able to make reads against rotating defenses. If Sergi is consistently knocking down 3-point shots, he'll be an impact lead guard at the low to mid major level.     Spire cruised to a blowout victory that was uncompetitive from start to finish thanks to the play of guys like Rollins. A floor spacing wing forward, Rollins actually put in more work in the paint than I've previously seen from him. Using his physicality in the paint and making smart pivots and pump fakes to free the space for him to score at the rim, Rollins has a polished game. A bit of a tweener who can play either the three or the four, Rollins has a bunch of Division II and NAIA interest but could also try and go the JUCO route after this post grad season. Will be interesting to see what path he ends up taking as he's going to contribute to winning in ways that don't always show up on the stat sheet.     My first time seeing Kemper after being injured to open the season when I saw AIA Prep, he was what I expected to see based on highlights and seeing him work out. The lefty stretch forward has a smooth jumper, plays physical in the paint as a rebounder and can really pass the basketball. Fizzling out a little as the game went on, Kemper was the most productive player on the floor in the first half of play. The way Kemper impacted the game offensively as a forward hub for a team that wants to play with multiple bigs was impressive and he secured some tough defensive rebounds. A clear Division I target, I'd be surprised if more schools don't come calling about Kemper sooner rather than later.     Another big from OHSAA's 2025 class, Hoerner had a big game for AIA Prep in their massive victory over Mt Zion Prep. Hoerner has done impressive work to continue to slim down his body and he's become more of a perimeter oriented forward instead of a back to the basket bruiser. Impressed with his development as an athlete and he continues to produce for AIA Prep. Expecting Hoerner to be a priority for regional Division II programs, it wouldn't shock me if he ended up at the Division I level this year or a few years down the line as well.     Western Reserve Academy used a big second half performance to get a home victory over Winston Salem Prep and Webb was productive as a forward who can play above the rim, crash the offensive glass, cut and run in transition. Webb's length also allows him to make impact plays defensively and he's continued to do the things that made him intriguing when I watched him with Beauchamp Elite back in July. Will be curious to see how La Salle fits his role at the college level to try and get him on the court early in his college career.

I attended the opening day of Elite Prep League action this weekend, hosted by Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. In this article I'll take a look at six stock risers who impressed me on Friday.