City boys basketball teams at a glance
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
College View Academy
* Coach: Garth Glissman
* Last year: 11-4
This should be a great year to watch boys basketball in Lincoln because there is plenty of talent and four teams appear ready to contend. Lincoln High got the edge over Southeast near the top of the ratings because of its proven inside-outside combo of Dylan Flinn inside and Pete Uhing and R.J. Richardson outside. The Knights are strong on the perimeter with Taylor Price, and Matt Hagerbaumer’s return should shore up the inside. Southwest and East also made the rankings. Southwest will rely on big man Jake Marvin and has three other starters back. The Spartans also have proven big men in Drew Sankey, Tyson Clark and Reece Schwartz.
Tops in the state
Creighton Prep was an overwhelming choice of coaches to be the top team this year, and the Junior Jays’ inside game has a lot to do with that. John Karhoff, 6-foot-8, anchors the middle, with 6-5 Brett Potter and 6-5 Nick Davis to help. Alex Hook missed last season after knee surgery, but showed he is fully recovered as he guided Prep’s football team to the state semifinals. Karhoff also had ACL surgery. “This team has all the makings of being a solid, fun group,” said coach Josh Luedtke. “They play well together and understand our philosophy.”
Look at these players
Jarrell Crayton is the only returning first-team Super-State player. The Bellevue East senior took Class A by storm down the stretch last year, leading the Chieftains to the state tournament semifinals. He averaged 24.3 points and 15.3 rebounds in the tournament, pulling down 20 rebounds in the semifinals. Crayton has strength and also displays finesse. Greg Smith of Ralston was named third-team Super-State after averaging 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds. The Rams are back in Class B this year, so Smith and his brother, Dwight, are the reason Ralston is the preseason No. 1 pick.
* Returning letterwinners: Brandon Peters, 6-0, jr.; Carlos Moura, 6-0, sr.; Seth Gaskin, 6-0, sr.; Ross Buck, 6-1, jr.; Drew Mekelburg, 5-9, jr.
* Others to watch: L.J. Vella, 5-9, so.; Lucas Alder, 5-10, jr.
* Outlook: This is Glissman’s first year with the program, so there will be a learning curve. The team’s a bit undersized and not very experienced. Peters and Moura have already enlisted in the Marines and will join after they graduate.
Lincoln Christian
* Coach: Monte Jones
* Last year: 13-6
* Returning letterwinners: Jacob Gipson, 6-5, sr.; Zach Jensen, 6-0, sr.; Ben Manley, 6-3, jr.; Devin Paulsen, 6-3, sr.; Collin Phelps, 6-0, jr.; Austin Mathers, 6-3, jr.
* Outlook: Three starters give the Crusaders a good nucleus. Gipson averaged 13.5 points and Manley 12. Jensen is coming back from his third ACL injury, so nagging injuries must heal.
Lincoln East
* Coach: Ed McPherren
* Last year: 10-11
* Returning letterwinners: Tyson Clark, 6-4, sr.; Drew Sankey, 6-5, sr.; Reese Schwartz, 6-4, sr.; Luke Matzke, 6-1, sr.; Jordan Yurth, 6-3, jr.
* Others to watch: Mitch Ham, 6-3, sr.; Scott Sunderman, 6-0, sr.; Brian Sunderman, 5-10, sr.; Andrew Shaw, 6-3, sr.; Josh Hastreiter, 6-5, jr.; Jordan Newman, 6-3, so.; Spencer Quinn, 6-4, so.
* Outlook: The Spartans are very experienced inside with Clark, Sankey and Schwartz. Matzke will take over at point guard and Ham and Yurth could make a splash.
Lincoln High
* Coach: Russ Uhing
* Last year: 20-6
* Returning letterwinners: R.J. Richardson, 5-10, sr.; Pete Uhing, 6-4, sr.; Dylan Flinn, 6-6, jr.; Michael Partee, 5-10, sr.; Dan King, 6-3, sr.; Keaton Soto Olson, 5-9, sr.; Tobin Reinwald, 6-3, jr.
* Others to watch: Jeremy Phillippi, 5-10, sr.; Vince Smail, 6-3, jr.
* Outlook: With Uhing running the show, Richardson slashing and Flinn getting stronger, the Links have some weapons and balance. Defense and rebounding will be strengths.
Lincoln Lutheran
* Coach: Eric Alloway
* Last year: 11-11
* Returning letterwinners: Connor Shelton, 5-11, jr.; Isaiah Bockelman, 5-9, so.; Ethan Wachal, 5-10, jr; Mike Tewes, 6-3, sr.
* Others to watch: Jayson Haessler, 6-0, jr.; Jesse Tobey, 6-2, jr.; Ethan Walz, 6-3, jr.; Eric Beckman, 6-2, so.
* Outlook: A trip to state last year should energize the Warriors, but they are young and inexperienced. Alloway is in his first year at Lutheran, moving from Parkview Christian.
Lincoln North Star
* Coach: Tony Quattrocchi
* Last year: 5-18
* Returning letterwinners: Michael Kikaya, 5-9, sr.; Jerry Key, 6-0, sr.; Zach Ziemba, 6-1, sr.; Amilio Boone, 6-5, sr.; Joe Hartley, 5-10, jr.; Anthony Ruhl, 6-0, jr.; Dillon Schrodt, 6-3, jr.
* Others to watch: Jok Kut, 6-4, jr.; Mgong Kok, 6-4, sr.; Eric Eickhoff, 6-3, so.; Donte Jackson, 5-10, so.; Kiefer Masiel, 6-2, fr.
* Outlook: This is an athletic team and very quick. Almost all are multi-sport athletes. Mikaya, Key, Hartley and Schrodt had major roles with a successful football team and Ziemba, who missed the football season recovering from surgery, is chomping at the bit to compete.
Lincoln Northeast
* Coach: Steve Bartek
* Last year: 6-15
* Returning letterwinners: Dol Kutey, 6-6, sr.; Tommy Johnson, 5-10, jr.; Trevor Vidlak, 6-0, sr.; E.T. Hintz, 6-3, sr.; Sunday Wur, 6-8, sr.; Yusef Wade, 5-10, jr.
* Others to watch: Will Sailors, 6-4, so.; David Heim, 6-3, sr.; Clayton Dean, 5-11, jr.; Tyler Francis, 6-2 jr.; D.J. Price, 5-8, jr.; Derek Hoodjer, 6-4, so.
* Outlook: Kutey and Johnson give the Rockets an inside-outside punch. Young and inexperienced players must step up.
Lincoln Pius X
* Coach: Ray Forycki
* Last year: 17-7
* Returning letterwinners: Stuart Sucha, 6-2, jr.; Billy Vogel, 6-5, sr.; Jack Burt, 6-1, jr.; Cole Kennett, 6-0, sr.
* Others to watch: Trevor Johnson, 6-3, jr.; Chad Gibney, 5-5, jr.
* Outlook: This is a young team with little experience. Sucha is versatile and strong, and Burt came in and gave the Thunderbolts some solid play. Vogel provides a strong presence inside.
Lincoln Southeast
* Coach: Jeff Smith
* Last year: 16-7
* Returning letterwinners: Taylor Price, 6-1, sr.; Connor Smith, 6-1, sr.; Sean Hill, 6-5, sr.; Derrius Vick, 6-2, so.; Matt Hagerbaumer, 6-7, sr.; Eric Jackson, 6-3, jr.; Jaydee Jurgensen, 6-3, jr.; Derek Dunn, 5-11, sr.; Jack Salomons, 5-11, jr.
* Others to watch: Derek Shouse, 6-1, so.; Tyler Bates, 5-10, sr.
* Outlook: Hagerbaumer and Jackson missed last year with injuries, but will give the Knights a strong inside game. Price is a three-year starter and steadying influence and is coming back from ACL surgery that took him out of football.
Lincoln Southwest
* Coach: Duane Baack
* Last year: 10-12
* Returning letterwinners: Jake Marvin, 6-8, sr.; Drew Edmond, 5-10, jr.; Garrett Nitz, 6-2, sr.; Rylan Cotton, 6-2, jr.
* Others to watch: Ethan Thompkins, 6-3, sr.; Jordan Tyrance, 6-4, jr.; Jeff Seybold, 6-0, jr.; Dylan Heath, 6-5, so.
* Outlook: Four returning starters give the Silver Hawks a springboard. Size and depth will also be assets. Marvin, a two-year starter, averaged 10.1 points and 8 rebounds. The team is still a bit young.
Parkview Christian
* Coach: Brett Dangler
* Last year: 8-17
* Returning letterwinners: Augie Pena, 5-8, jr.; Ben Kramer, 5-10, jr.; Jake Kramer, 6-0, so.; Josh Schmucker, 6-0, jr.
* Others to watch: Caleb Schmucker, 5-7, sr.; Beau Ballard, 5-5, fr.; Bryce Ham, 6-0, fr.; Jordan White, 5-10, so.
* Outlook: This is a young and inexperienced team. Dangler is a first-year head coach and the Patriots have just one player who has started at the varsity level.
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