2022 Lehigh Valley Conference Players to Watch Pt. 1
The 2020/21 boys basketball season is rapidly approaching across the state of Pennsylvania as practices are ramping up with the expectation that hopefully, games will begin come December. In Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is the class of the state, arguably having one…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2020/21 boys basketball season is rapidly approaching across the state of Pennsylvania as practices are ramping up with the expectation that hopefully, games will begin come December.
In Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is the class of the state, arguably having one of the nation’s hotbeds of talent. However, outside of the area, there is much more talent to be found.
Prep Hoops takes a look in the Lehigh Valley region and the Lehigh Valley Conference with juniors that you should watch out for this coming season.
Tyson Thomas Tyson Thomas 6'1" | PG Allentown Central Catholic | 2022 State PA , PG Allentown Catholic: Thomas is a reliable, go-to scorer for Allentown Catholic, but he pushes the speed of the game, playing up-tempo & fast. He thrives when he weaves his way into the lane and gets into the paint. Thomas is a gamer and he has a perfect touch around the rim. You want the ball in his hands to make a play in a crucial situation of a game. He’s a difference-maker on the court and his ball-handling and scoring prowess is only going to improve and his ceiling will only continue to rise.
Ryan Glassmacher, PF/SF Bethlehem Catholic: Glassmacher has everything you want in a forward while possessing some guard attributes. His 6-5 frame allows him to get up and down the floor, getting chasedown blocks that not many can. He can finish fast break opportunities with a flourish, but this kid can shoot. Glassmacher loves the ball on the perimeter and pulls the trigger often and with success. He can crash the boards or pull up from the foul line and he plays with extreme confidence for Bethlehem Catholic, a massive upside.
Aaron Clark, PG/SF Easton Area: Clark has hops and he has height. Standing at 6-5, he’s versatile on the court, able to handle the ball at the point or push the game tempo as a forward. He’s a crafty player, a shot creator and a purebred scorer. He plays with aggression, with tenacity. He’s the type of player who fights for those second-chances at the rim while playing a pressing style of defense that creates bad shots and turnovers. Clark likes the ball in his hands, he likes to shoot the rock if he’s open and he already looks like a budding college superstar.
Joseph Barnes, SG/SF Liberty: Barnes is a gamer. From the opening tip to the final whistle, he’s playing with aggression, 100% the entire game. It’s not chaotic energy: it’s controlled bursts of greatness from this guard/forward combo. He looks anything from timid with the ball and is creating space for himself and teammates just from off-ball movement, distracting opponents from the ball-handler. Barnes’ shot is pure and he’s lethal when he gets hot. He scores in bunches, but also makes plays on both sides of the ball and is the kind of spark plug you need.
Koye Whitman, PF/SF Nazareth: Whitman, simply put, is a bonafide baller on the court. This 6-4 forward is a playmaker on offense and a disruptor on defense. Put the ball in his hands, and he’s going to create scoring opportunities, either driving hard into the lane or spotting up from three, where he’s comfortable shooting with an open look or a defender in his face. Whitman is just a difference-maker and he’s scary good, especially just going into his junior season. If there’s any player to watch on Nazareth this season, it’s him no question.
Continue to follow Prep Hoops for more player profiles and previews as the 2020/21 high school boys basketball season approaches.