High School Spotlight: Homestead Spartans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The High School Spotlight Series is back and we are excited to feature multiple teams throughout the state once again! The season is still a few months away, but it is never too early to look ahead at the high school season. We will be taking a look at some quick hitters, the top player(s), a potential breakout player, other roster members, and more for the upcoming season. For today's spotlight, we take a look at the Homestead Spartans. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Quick Hitters</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Went 20-7 last season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lost to Northridge in Semistate. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Head Coach Chris Johnson starts his 18th year as head coach. He is 548-227 as a head coach.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Will be looking to make a run at a Class 4A State Championship.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Player: [player_tooltip player_id='2932419' first='Mack' last='Welker']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There may not have been a player in Indiana's 2027 class who had a bigger summer than [player_tooltip player_id='2932419' first='Mack' last='Welker']. After putting together a strong spring with [program_tooltip program_id='2076927' first='Indy' last='Heat'], Welker truly elevated his stock once the June live periods began, catching the attention of college coaches with his consistent production and all-around play. He enters the season as the No. 1 option for a Homestead team that looks poised to contend for a Class 4A state championship. His breakout summer has already translated into scholarship offers from Central Michigan, Purdue Fort Wayne, Ball State, Wright State, Eastern Michigan, Bellarmine, and several other programs, and that list is likely to continue growing throughout his senior se</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Potential Breakout Player: [player_tooltip player_id='2539827' first='Bryce' last='LaCross']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Homestead Spartans are loaded with talent this season, giving [player_tooltip player_id='2932419' first='Mack' last='Welker'] plenty of help around him. One of the biggest additions is 2028 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2539827' first='Bryce' last='LaCross'], who transferred to Homestead after spending the first part of his high school career at Fort Wayne Blackhawk. After battling injuries for much of the past year, LaCross appears to be back at full strength, making Homestead even more dangerous in the backcourt. The 6-foot-4 guard returns after averaging 22.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season and brings another dynamic scoring threat to a Spartans team with legitimate Class 4A state title aspirations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Key Roster Members</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2054869' first='Jake' last='Coolman']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560341' first='Braylon' last='Mcniece'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2481886' first='Ryder' last='Imel']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2806982' first='Dean' last='Kara']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560339' first='Austin' last='Wagner']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2424089' first='Cameron' last='Abbring']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3668359' first='Gavin' last='Wells']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2934376' first='Brendon' last='Lee']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jack Goode</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3657681' first='Gracin' last='Jewell']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2806982' first='Dean' last='Kara']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->