The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
High school boys basketball watch list
PLAYERS TO WATCH
(in alphabetical order) G Jalen Barnes, Jr., Lutheran West: A talented shooter who led the Patriot Athletic Conference in 3-point shooting. Averaged 19.0 points per game last season.
G/W Trey Brooks, Sr., Open Door: The Patriots’ top player and likely Mr. Basketball candidate this year. Averaged 21.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks per game last season.
G Devon Grant, Sr., Lorain: One of the top point guards in the state and among the area’s best shooters. Averaged 21.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 steals per game to go with 48-percent field goal and 79-percent free throw shooting last season.
PG Luke Howes, Jr., Fairview: One of the best players in the Patriot Athletic Conference and among The Morning Journal area’s top scorers. Averaged 15.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.2 steals per game last season.
G/F Jarred Logan, Sr., Elyria Catholic: A playmaker on both ends who will be
a constant double-double threat. Averaged 13.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game last season.
G Mason Montgomery, Sr., Vermilion: The Sailors’ best all-around player is likely to cross the 1,000 career point threshold. Averaged 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game last season. PG Erik Painter, Sr., Bay:
On pace to set several career program records as one of the top point guards in The Morning Journal area. Averaged 16.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game last season. F Taevon Pierre-Louis, Sr., Lorain: A double-double threat on any given night and a key component to Lorain’s state tournament run. Averaged 15.0
points, 8.0rebounds, 3.0assists, 2.0steals per game last season, while shooting at a 51-percent field goal clip.
PG Jeremy Sanchez, Sr., North Ridgeville: Should emerge as one of the top guards in the Southwestern Conference. Averaged 14.0 points, 2.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game last season. G Javon Todd, Sr., Clearview: The Clippers’ top scorer and leader on the floor. Averaged 16.2points, 4.1rebounds, 4.1assists and 2.2steals per game last year, and shot 46-percent from the field.
GAMES TO WATCH
Avon at Avon Lake, Dec. 11, 7:30p.m.: The heated rivals split last season’s series and an early-season rivalry game will be a tough test to start the year. Bay at Elyria Catholic, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m.: The Rockets won this game on a buzzerbeater last season and a win here will be crucial in the quest for a Great Lakes Conference title.
Elyria at Medina, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m.: The Pioneers hit the road to begin what will be a difficult Greater Cleveland Conference schedule and a win over Medina will help set the tone for the season.
Elyria Catholic at Vermilion, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.: The Panthers won this non-conference game, 72-71, last season and this year’s game presents tons of exciting matchups.
Clearview at Fairview, Jan. 4, 7:30 p.m.: The Clippers were handed their only Patriot Athletic Conference loss by Fairview last season and both teams return plenty of talent. Wellington at Keystone, Jan. 4, 7:30 p.m.: These teams split last season’s series and battled atop the Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division all season. A good early-season measure of where both stack up this year. Huron at Vermilion, Jan. 5, 2:30 p.m.: Vermilion lost its only Sandusky Bay Conference game to Huron last season and a win here would be huge in the Sailors’ quest for another conference title. Lorain at Cleveland Heights, Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m.: The Tigers ended Lorain’s three-year Lake Erie League reign last season and the two will square off near the end of the first half of conference play.
Lakewood at Olmsted Falls, Jan. 29, 7 p.m.: Last season’s co-Southwestern Conference champions face off in the final game of the first half of conference play in a crucial matchup.
Garfield Heights at Lorain, Feb. 2, 7:30p.m.: Lorain played one of its best games in a loss to Garfield Heights last season and this time the Titans have home-court advantage.