The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Players to watch, preseason Crop on tap
Adam Schabel previews the top players to watch in Morning Journal coverage area boys basketball, including Lorain’s West Virginia recruit Seth Wilson. That, along with the preseason Top of the Crop.
(in alphabetical order) G/F Gavin Dobbins, Sr., Open Door: The Division IV Lorain County Player of the Year averaged 22.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game last year. He also knocked down 22 3-pointers.
G Brandon Fisher, Sr., Columbia: A key contributor on offense and defense who averaged 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1 block per game last winter. He was also a perimeter threat who nailed 28 3-pointers.
F Justin Garcia, Sr., Westlake: A force to be reckoned with down low as he averaged 17 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He shot 48% from the field. His season was cut short due to injury.
F Mitchell Hodges, Sr., Firelands: A top player for the Falcons who averaged 12.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in 2019.
F Jack Kenneally, Jr., Elyria Catholic: At 6-foot-7, the Holy Name transfer brings some added size to the Panthers’ lineup. He will join 6-foot-4 forward Jaret Frantz in the starting lineup.
G Ashton Price, Sr., Bay:
Price had a breakout campaign in 2019-20 for the Rockets. As a junior, he averaged a schoolrecord 24.2 points per game, 3.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per contest.
G MarSaun Robinson, Sr., Elyria: The floor general for the Pioneers who averaged 12.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 2019-20.
G Nyco Vidal, Sr., Midview:
A sharpshooter who knocked down an area-best 70 3-pointers last year. He also set a program record for single season 3s made. As a junior, he averaged 12.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest.
G Ryan Walsh, So., Keystone: Walsh impressed as a freshman last year and is expected to take another step this fall. The moment is never too big for him as he is known for making clutch shots. He averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
F Ty Weatherspoon, Sr., Amherst: A stout defender who is a crafty finisher down low. He averaged 11.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last year.
G Seth Wilson, Sr., Lorain:
The West Virginia signee averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last winter. He also knocked down 32% of his 3-pointers.
Watch list: Avon Lake 16-9, Clearview 12-9, Olmsted Falls 10-13, Open Door 11-11
Crop comments: Lorain opens the season at the top after making a postseason run to a regional semifinal, where it fell to St. Edward. The Titans are a motivated group and return star guard Seth Wilson, who is a West Virginia signee. ... Midview graduated a pair of key contributors from last season’s team, which won the Southwestern Conference championship. Point guard Marcell Young and Jonny Manning — who was named Lorain County’s Mr. Basketball — graduated earlier this year. 2020 Morning Journal and Division I Lorain County coach of the year Jim Brabenec has an experienced core returning. Three starters also return, including sharpshooters Nyco Vidal and Aden Gregory. ... Firelands has a wealth of experience returning after graduating two seniors. Four of the five Falcons starters are back for 2020, which should help them in a unique season as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. ... Oberlin returns a pair of key starters in Trajen Chambers and Andre Yarber. ... Columbia graduated talented big man Charlie Simon as well as Jacob Kile. However, three starters return from last season, including Brandon Fisher, a talented outside shooter. ... Westlake’s top player Justin Garcia is back for 2020-21. In Coach Jeff Huber’s first season at the helm in 2019-20, the Demons were stringing together wins before the injury bug hit. Look for Westlake to hit the ground running this winter as players know their roles within Huber’s system. ... Amherst lost its 6-foot-9, 200-pound big man Christian Pfeiffer plus two other starters to graduation. However, the Comets have a pair of key contributors returning in Ty Weatherspoon and George Fayer. ... Elyria Catholic lost Division III Lorain County Player of the Year Edward Wright, big man Branson Taylor and the rest of its starting five from 2019-20. Coach Rob Palmer will have his hands full with a relatively young starting lineup. The Panthers will be buoyed with two 6-foot starters in Jaret Frantz (6-foot-4) and Jack Kenneally (6-foot-7). ... Fairview is also retooling after 2020 Morning Journal player of the year Luke Howes and key starters Martin Lowry and Noah Mesaros graduated. Coach Ryan Barry is excited to see what his young team can do this winter. ... Keystone enters the Crop after ending last season on the outside looking in. The Wildcats are led by sophomore point guard Ryan Walsh, who had an impressive season last year as a freshman.