Okay, so the prep basketball season just wrapped up this weekend with the state tournament. Gorman won the state title again (insert yawn here).
That doesn’t mean we have to wait around until November to take a look at next season. With the 2015-16 campaign in the books, here’s how the DI North figures to stack up heading into next winter.
1. Spanish Springs Cougars
There was a lot of hype surrounding coach Kyle Penney’s squad last offseason and that won’t change going into next year. They will lose two starters to graduation, but just 13.3 total points per game of production, while bringing back a massive nine-senior class.
That class will include reigning High Desert League Player of the Year Marcus Loadholt (18.2 points per game), first-team selection Josh Prizina (11.7 ppg, 7.6 rebound per game), guard Bryce DeLong, who received second-team honors as a junior, and Justus Eaglesmith, who figures to take over point guard duties.
2015-16 record: 16-9, 12-4 HDL No. 2
2. Carson Senators
Carson is coming off an incredible season. The Senators went 24-5, 16-0 in the DI North on their way to the DI North title. To run the table in the DI North that features a lot of parity at the top cannot be lauded enough.
The Senators will lose Sierra League Player of the Year, Asa Carter, and the team’s other premier ball handler, Jared Rooker, but still bring key parts back. First-team selections Tez Allen and Jayden DeJoseph, the team’s best pure scorer, will join second-team big man Jace Keema on the squad next year.
A ball handler will need to emerge but with those three key parts returning from last year’s team that won the DI North title, Carson will once again be a legit contender.
2015-16 record: 24-5, 16-0 SL No. 1
3. Galena Grizzlies
The Grizzlies were young last year and it led to a slow start. They found their rhythm late and became as dangerous as anyone. They upset Spanish Springs on the road in the regional quarterfinals and nearly upended Carson in the semifinals.
They will lose Noah Peck (8.1 ppg) and Zach Williams (16.6 ppg) to graduation but bring back three key parts. To-be senior Dillon Voyles (16.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg) will compete for Player of the Year after landing on the first team as a junior, and Moses Wood (5.8 ppg) and Derek Kline (5 ppg) both received honorable mention as sophomores.
2015-16 record: 17-11, 10-6 SL No. 3
4. Bishop Manogue Miners
The Miners will lose just three seniors from this year’s team that finished second in the Sierra League, the most consequential of which will be Johnny Reily, who got a first-team nod this winter.
Manogue will have a seven-senior class next year, headlined by Aidan Cantwell, a first-team selection this winter, and Brevon Bansuelo, a second-team selection.
2015-16 record: 14-10, 11-5 SL No. 2
5. Reno Huskies
The Huskies are going to look almost entirely different after winning the High Desert League title and qualifying for state this winter.
They are losing nine seniors and four starters: First teamers Mike Heydon (10.7 ppg. 6.9 ppg), Karn Goraya (11.5 ppg) and David Kyle (8 ppg) as well as second teamer, Logan Shaw (6.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg).
Reno will have one of the biggest roster turnovers in Northern Nevada, along with McQueen and Douglas, but coach Matt Ochs was the co-DI North Coach of the Year for a reason. He’ll make the Huskies a threat once again.
2015-16 record: 20-8, 14-2 HDL No. 1
Needs to get in the gym: Reed Raiders
To view how the 2015-16 rankings adjusted over the course of the season, click here.
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