Class AA Title Contender Series: Harrisburg

<p>A team many are pointing to as the squad about to make a massive jump?  That would be the Harrisburg Tigers. </p> [caption id="attachment_1027227" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Blake-Lubbers.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1027227 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/08/Blake-Lubbers-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Lubbers[/caption] <p><strong>Moving On</strong>: Harrisburg lost three players from last year’s rotation:  guard Sam Christensen, reserve big Brady Schultz, and reserve forward Seth Halling.  Christensen was a starter who played about half of the game and provided some of everything for the Tigers including handling the ball.  Most graduated seniors are tough to lose but Harrisburg will replace Halling up front with a senior capable of starting on day one, while Christensen’s minutes will be taken up by some hungry young guards. Schultz provided toughness but there are JV players ready to take that role. </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>: The team has four returning starting with 6-foot-2 senior shooter<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="975581" first="Blaze" last="Lubbers"]</strong> who can knock out 3-4 threes and then maybe attack your frame with a finish at or even above the rim.  A double figure scoring caliber guard.  Speaking of shooters, on the other senior wing <strong>Connor Geddes</strong> one of the best three-point artists in the state and one of the more clutch shooters around. Who will handle the ball with Christensen out?  Geddes has done it a bit and then now junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="812217" first="Andrew" last="Walter"]</strong> handled it as well.  Andrew is an aggressive, active playmaker who won’t hesitate to call his own number but do it in an efficient way.  Walter is a top ten junior in the class as he has great size for either guard spot.  Finally, there is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="975538" first="Brayden" last="Phipps"]</strong>, 6-foot-5 and 225 plus pounds of low post aggressive muscle that will hold his ground.  Phipps is double-double tough and has really learned how to turn over each shoulder and use that pivot in the off-season. </p> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>More shooting?  Sure.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968221" first="Gavin" last="Aasheim"]</strong> showed off one of the prettiest strokes in the class.  Shooting, shooting, and more shooting! Five-foot-8 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="975596" first="Nate" last="Hoyt"]</strong> is another combo guard senior that can knock shots out from the arc with the ability to handle some too.  Another frontcourt rock returning (in addition to Phipps) is 6-foot-3, </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  </strong>There is more size coming from the JV and the battles for back-up forward/frontcourt spots could be really fun.  Six-foot-5, 210 pound <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="975536" first="Nick" last="Tschudy"]</strong> can offer some bruises off the bench while 6-foot-3 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="975563" first="Ethyn" last="Rollinger"]</strong> can play either forward spot with his agility and wide frame. Both Tschudy and Rollinger are seniors and they will be working with/against 6-foot-2 well built sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968212" first="Cade" last="Larson"]</strong>.  Six-foot-3, 215 pound sophomore <strong>Aiden Foley</strong> will also have a chance to earn some time as a back-up frontcourt player. Another sophomore to watch is 6-foot-2 guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963767" first="Parker" last="Stansbury"]</strong>. </p> <p><strong>Transferring In</strong>:  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="975537" first="Hayden" last="Muirhead"]</strong> was one of the biggest stock raisers of the summer and a guy that has exploded up our prospect ranking chart (new rankings coming out soon). Hayden is a 6-foot-6 forward that spent his summer playing AAU basketball with Phipps, Geddes, and Lubbers.  Muirhead and Phipps made for an excellent frontcourt and they helped South Dakota Network knock off some good Midwest teams.  Muirhead has a good face-up jumper but is also a monster going at the rim with his two hand explosion.  </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts: </strong> I love the potential of a starting line-up that has a 6-foot-3 playmaker in Walter at point, 6-foot-2/6-foot-3 scoring wings in Lubbers and Geddes, and a frontline of Muirhead and Phipps that combines toughness and skill.  Add in a bench that brings size, agility, and skill and this looks like a real contender. </p>