WAYNE GENERALS BOYS “Favorites” IN HOOPS!2023/2024 SAC Boys Basketball Preview
D1 TALENT ABOUNDS!
Unscripted By Keith Edmonds
FWIS Contributing Writer
As we begin our 2023/2024 version of boys high school basketball I’ll start with this question: Is Wayne HS that far ahead of everyone in terms of this season being a 1-horse race for the top spot? Most experts (whomever they are) have chosen Wayne boys basketball as not only the team to beat in the SAC, but they should be given strong consideration for the State title as well! Whoa….. Now, I really like this team on paper and yes, they do have some extremely talented players coming back (including 4 starters from last season’s Regional final team) but a STATE TITLE? In today’s UNSCRIPTED, I’ll be taking a look at the teams on the SAC “BOYS” side of things as they Welcome 3 NEW 1st year head coaches to the conference, and ALL teams are looking to dethrone the Generals as they move towards March state championship tournament!
My SAC Boys Basketball “Snapshots”
for 23/24 Season
(In no particular order)…
1) WAYNE GENERALS: Coach: Anthony Brewer (1st Year)
I think that this team is locked and loaded and has to be the favorite based on the fact that they return 4 of their starters from last season’s SAC championship team and added Khalan Williams (who transferred from Concordia). Lead by D1 prospects Chase Barnes and Jevon Lewis, with solid help from Trey Dillard and Preston Comer, I look for this team to take everyone’s best shot, and when the smoke clears, they will emerge as not only conference champion, but a Sectional championship along with a Regional option are in their sites as well. *(There is a team over in Kokomo with a certain D1 stud that awaits them in what should be a tremendous Regional final later in March) Welcome to the SAC Coach Brewer!
2) CARROLL CHARGERS: Coach: Ryan Abbott (3rd year)
Cannen Houser, (Grace College) Jaxon Pardon (Bowling Green) who may be the best 1-2 punch this side of the SAC lead a team determined to succeed. How much did this team learn from previous season’s successes and failures? They certainly have built things the right way by allowing these youngsters to develop and now they’re here. If they can get solid contributions from 6’6 Grant Peters and 6’7 Evan Hall then inside play should be taken care of! How much will the transfer of some of their key bench players hurt this team? Only time will tell…
3) HOMESTEAD SPARTANS: Coach: Chris Johnson (25th year)
Remember when I said that this conference is loaded with talent? Well this team has one of the best players in the SAC in Wil Jamison who is a flat out scorer! Alex Graber will add some inside muscle but a huge key will be the players moving up from a very talented JV squad that have to help right away if the Spartans are going to be in the hunt! They also lost some very good players to graduation and transferring so this might be a work in progress but don’t EVER count out a Coach Johnson led team!
4) NORTH SIDE LEGENDS: Coach: Gary Andrews (6th year)
This team could be very good or they could be middle of the pack. Starting with Brauntae Johnson. (who is headed to Notre Dame next fall to play football). That’s IF he decides to play this season coming off of football injuries! Even if he doesn’t, they still have a SLEW of talent in 6’5 Jordan King (who is headed to Purdue next fall to play football), 6’5 Eugene Young Jr. along with 6’5 Jaxon Fugate that makes this team ON PAPER seem like the SAC’s best team! The problem is that they’ll need solid guard play to get things balanced, and get the ball to these capable scorers!
5 SOUTHSIDE ARCHERS: Coach: JJ Foster (7th year)
Led by sophomore 6 '6 Zachariah Belcher (who is going to be a dominant post player when given time to develop) Khelyn Harding and Javontae Bragg will be key contributors as well. This season will also mark the return of Cadell Wallace (who averaged 14 ppg for Bishop Luers last season) This team will eventually go as not only Belcher goes, but solid guard play around him. Traditionally Archer teams have been athletic and good in transition so it will be interesting to see how they develop during the course of this season.
6) LUERS KNIGHTS: Coach: Seth Coffing (3rd year)
With size returning in 6’5 Daymiun Kelly and 6’5 Danny Jackson along with 4-year starter Isaac Zay, the Knights were in good shape BUT now adding super talented transfers in Twins Drelyn & Dereon Truesdale this team is an immediate threat to compete for a “top tier” spot in the SAC! Both Truesdales have drawn D1 interest and have a coach that will push them towards greatness. Something’s cooking over on Paulding Rd! Watch out folks!
7) DWENGER SAINTS: Coach: Matt Kostoff (25th year)
What does this version of BD Saints look like? Well when you return a talented player like 6’8 Caleb Lehrman that’s a good start! They’ll need solid play from Luke Jacquay and Aslan Nolan to keep things going in the right direction! Expect them to be tough, physical, and disciplined!
8) CONCORDIA CADETS: Coach: Phil Brackmann (6th year)
This is another program that lost some very pivotal players due to transfers but return solid players in 6’5 Cole Hayworth and Luke Bultemeier so the cupboard is not bare, it’s just not as full as it once was! With that said, this team will COMPETE as is the Cadet way!
9) SNIDER PANTHERS: Coach: Josh Riikonen (1st year) Guards Ke’Drell and Ke’ron Billingsley must have consistent nights along with Landon Lee for the Panthers to be competitive. Welcome to the SAC Coach Riikonen!
10) NORTHROP BRUINS: Coach: Shane Merryman (1st year)
The Bruins will go as far as senior post player Dallas Lawrence and steady returning guards Donlaray Reese Jr. and Ahmad Salaam take them. Keep an eye on Jackson Hughes and Meki Davis as well. Welcome to the SAC Coach Merryman!
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