The big man from Stepinac was a very important piece in last years title. With injuries to some of the stud upperclassman Elijah stepped in without missing a beat looking like he belongs. He is an old school back to the basket load on the block. Fundamentally sound. Has a soft touch around the rim and out. Beast on the boards. Uses his body well to create scoring opportunities for himself down low.

With the experience he gained with the playing time he had this past season expect him to continue to impress. Big body player. Takes up space. Can rebound and defend the post. Can play with his back to the basket. Old school fundamentally sound player with good footwork. Has a soft touch from three can hit the open perimeter jumper.

Novotny is a skilled stretch forward who brings value both on the perimeter and around the basket. He has the touch to knock down shots from the outside while also being able to finish effectively inside. His footwork stands out, allowing him to carve out space and score in tight areas. In the paint he plays with strength and balance, giving his team a reliable interior presence. He tracks the ball well off the rim and consistently rebounds his position. Novotny shows comfort facing up or playing with his back to the basket depending on the matchup. With his inside-out versatility, he projects as a tough cover for opposing frontcourts.

The young big man did not play a lot of minutes but when he was in the game showed his ability to battle on the board and defend the paint. Uses his body well to create space to catch the ball in the paint or secure rebounds. Still raw but potential is there.

Novotny is an old school post player with some new school concepts. He is a tactician on the block operating effortlessly throughout the game. He also showed that he could space the floor. He has good chemistry with his guards. He needs to work on getting faster east to west. Novotny intrigues long-term.