4A Eastern Idaho Preview 2020-21: Part 1
Eastern Idaho has become a powerhouse for boys basketball with lots of great talent across the board. The 2020-21 season will be big for a lot of 4A teams with some teams shifting between the 4A and 5A finally becoming…
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Continue ReadingEastern Idaho has become a powerhouse for boys basketball with lots of great talent across the board. The 2020-21 season will be big for a lot of 4A teams with some teams shifting between the 4A and 5A finally becoming settled-in this season. In part 1 of this preview, I will be giving an overview of 4 teams from the East side followed by the other 4 teams in part 2.
Blackfoot Broncos: The Broncos finished 14-17 overall and 10-7 in conference under head coach Cody Shelley last season. Blackfoot had a roster full of juniors and seniors in 2019-20 and will look to use their game experience to help them make a run for the state tournament as they try to return to their winning ways in the 2020-21 season. Watch for Jaxon Ball, a 6’1″ hard-nosed defender with excellent vision, and Carter Layton Carter Layton 6'2" | SF Blackfoot | 2021 State ID , a 6’2″ guard/forward with the ability to step back and hit the long jumper or bully his way to the basket for an easy finish.
Preston Indians: Arguably one of the top teams at any level in the state last year, the Indians finished the season with an impressive 19-0 conference record and 33-1 overall record and a 4A state championship under head coach Tyler Jones. Preston got a lot of help from their seniors last season and will have to find new players to carry the weight of scoring, rebounding, and most importantly: winning. Look for Cole Harris, a 6’2″ guard with a knack for rebounding and the ability to defend all positions to lead the new-look Indians this season.
Century Diamondbacks: Century finished last season with an overall record of 12-22 and a conference record of 8-16 under head coach Ryan Frost. The Diamondbacks will have a completely redone roster this year thanks to a lot of seniors graduating leaving spots open across the board. The 2020-21 season provides an opportunity for the Diamondbacks to make a run at the state title behind Jovan Sowell, a true point guard with a quick release from outside and great footwork in the paint, and Bruin Fleischmann, a 6’4″ athletic forward with quick hands on defense and the ability to extend his range on offense.
Pocatello Indians: The Indians struggled last season under coach Joe Green, finishing with an overall record of 14-11 and a conference record of 8-8. Pocatello had a fairly young roster last season and had a couple of underclassmen playing big minutes last season. I expect the Indians to have a great season once they establish their roles within the team. Watch for Kaden Hales, a 6’1″ shooting guard with extended range and a high release to get his shot off over taller defenders, and Ryan Payne, a class of 2022 guard with a smooth jumper and great hands on defense to lead the way for the Indians.