Bold Predictions: Three Rivers Athletic Conference
An unusual amount of unpredictability surrounds the Three Rivers Athletic Conference, one of the top conferences in Toledo, going into next season. Although Toledo St. John’s has controlled the action for the better part of a decade, the graduation of college signees Vincent Williams, Houston King, and Ryan Christie leaves the door open for a new sheriff.
Toledo St. Francis will win the conference
The top tier of teams is comprised of St. Francis, Whitmer, Toledo St. John’s and Lima Senior. Even though Whitmer brings back nearly their entire rotation, we cannot ignore the likely improvements from SFS’s talent.
Anchored by 6’6” senior forwards Jackie Harris and Grant Sonnenberg, they’ll have a size advantage on most nights. In order for this prediction to prove correct though, they will need a notable (and anticipated) improvement from sophomore 6’4” wing Jamiya Neal, who has as much raw talent as any TRAC prospect.
First Team All TRAC
- Ryan Nunn (2019), 5’11” G, Findlay
- Trey Syroka (2019), 5’11” PG, Whitmer
- Payton Moyer (2019), 6’0” G, Toledo St. John’s
- Eddie Colbert (2019), 6’5” W/F, Whitmer
- Jackie Harris (2019), 6’6” F, Toledo St. Francis
Putting Nunn, Colbert, and Harris on the team isn’t bold at all. They all strike us as shoe-ins and guys who will really produce on the offensive end.
Meanwhile, Syroka and Moyer barely snuck in over Lima Senior wing Jaleel King, SFS guard Jakiel Wells, and various SJJ players.
Jackie Harris will win the Player of the Year and average a double-double
This may not actually be the boldest pick either, but who else are we going to go with here? Harris earned Division I Second Team All State honors last season upon averaging 16.1 points and 9.6 rebounds.
In a conference not known for its frontcourt size, Harris should dominate the glass. He’s equally adept at stepping out for spot-up 3-pointers as he is scoring with skill on a post-up. Even though teammates Jakiel Wells and Jamiya Neal will also have offense ran for them, expect Harris to be the fulcrum of their halfcourt offense.
Trey Syroka is the most valuable piece
Whitmer has a real shot at winning the conference this season. They bring back all five starters and most of their role players overall.
Maybe more important than anything is that Trey Syroka, the best floor general in Toledo, is coming back also. He controls the game unlike most players in the state and creates good looks for his teammates. The 2019 prospect has a shifty handle that allows him to get into the lane and manipulate help-side defenders.
If he can limit turnovers, Whitmer may sweep our conference champion pick and prove us wrong. After all, they did go 2-1 against St. Francis last season, including knocking them out of the OHSAA playoffs. He’ll deal with elite perimeter defenders like Jaleel King, Jakiel Wells, and tons of St. John’s length this season though.