Players to watch

Lance Beeghley:
New Braunfels, G, jr.

Demar Burton: Brandeis, F, sr.

Camden Cowgill:
Brennan, G, soph.

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson:
Warren, F, sr.

Ethan Croley:
Clark, C, Sr.

Jameer Dudley:
Clemens, G, sr.

Kingston Flemings: Brennan, G, soph.

Camrin Garza:
Jay, G, soph.

Matthew Gonzalez:
Marshall, G, sr.

Jarin Hall:
Harlan, G, sr.

Tristan Holden:
Taft, G/F, sr.

Aashon Holmes:
Harlan, G, sr.

Robert Jackson:
Brennan, F, sr.

Josiah McDonald:
Stevens, G, jr.

Aden Mendez:
Warren, G, sr.

Demetrice Mills:
Taft, G, sr.

Luke Mills:
Reagan, G, sr.

Jalon Munoz:
O’Connor, G, sr.

Liam Rangel:
LEE, G/F, jr.

Aidan Richard:
Reagan, G, jr.

Jacob Stewart:
East Central, G, jr.

Nathaniel Vasquez:
Holmes, G, sr.

Isaiah Ward:
Brennan, G, fr.

Outlook:
With four returning starters and a highly touted freshman, Brennan is the team to beat in Class 6A Region IV. The Bears nearly got to the state tournament last year but fell short against Austin Westlake in the regional final.

Brennan is loaded with the return of sophomore guards Kingston Flemings and Camden Cowgill, district co-newcomers of the year last season. The Express-News selected Flemings as its 2021-22 Newcomer of the Year.

Senior forward Robert Jackson provides leadership and is capable of averaging a double-double. The arrival of 6-6 freshman forward Isaiah Ward, who holds at least three NCAA Division I offers, bolsters the Bears state-title hopes.

Others who could challenge include Reagan, who returns two starters and six letterwinners from a squad that won a school-record 32 games.

Warren, which shared the District 29-6A championship with Brennan, returns 6-foot-8 forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, an Express-News Player of the Year finalist last season.

Class 5A

Players to watch

Elias Aitmerim:
MacArthur, G, jr.

Braden Baum:
Boerne Champion, G, sr.

Isaiah Cardona:
Brackenridge, G, jr.

TreVaun Clark:
Wagner, F, fr.

Tyler Cook:
SA Veterans Memorial, F, sr.

Willie Gaskin:
Highlands, G, jr.

Charlie Georgelos:
Boerne Champion, G, jr.

Dakarai Hodge:
Boerne Champion, G, sr.

John Jackson: Seguin, G, jr.

Donovan Mancha:
McCollum, G, sr.

Isaiah Perales:
Brackenridge, G, sr.

Chico Strash:
Alamo Heights, G, sr.

Mayson Thomas:
Pieper, G/F, fr.

Lazarus Zavala:
Edison, G, sr.

Outlook:
Boerne Champion, a state semifinalist last season, returns its top three players, including senior guards Braden Baum and Dakarai Hodge. The Chargers are happy to have Hodge back after he missed last season recovering from an ACL injury following a promising sophomore season.

Wagner returns to the Class 5A ranks, where it qualified for the state tournament in 2019 and 2020. The Thunderbirds are short on varsity experience but full of highly regarded freshmen, including TreVaun Clark, a 6-7 forward, who holds a pair of DI offers.

Sub-Class 5A

Players to watch

Kenny Atunrase:
Cole, F, jr.

Jordan Balderas:
Lytle, F, sr.

Noah Barnett:
Bandera, G, sr.

Ryan Bellino:
La Vernia, G/F, sr.

Jaden De Leon:
Fox Tech, F, sr.

Kamau Franks:
YMLA, G, sr.

Eli Gilliland:
Comfort, G, sr.

Nate Guevara:
Poth, G/F, jr.

Houston Hendrix:
Boerne, F, sr.

Jayce Krauskopf:
Pleasanton, F, sr.

James Livingston:
Cole, G, jr.

R.J. Marquez:
Pleasanton, G, sr.

Barrett Pape:
Boerne, G, sr.

Daniel Schultz:
Fredericksburg, C, sr.

Matthew Soto:
Somerset, G, sr.

Marquail Strait:
YMLA, G, jr.

Outlook:
Boerne returns two starters from its Class 4A state semifinal squad. The Greyhounds have advanced to the state semifinals two straight seasons. Pleasanton, with four returning starters including star point guard R.J. Marquez, are set up for a potential long playoff run. Somerset, with guard Matthew Soto, will factor in, too.

Cole, which has advanced to the Class 3A state championship game (winning it all in 2021) three straight years, has the tough task of replacing three key players — Silas Livingston, Trey Blackmore and Dre Ray. Junior forward Kenny Atunrase emerged as a solid player during the Cougars’ playoff run last year.

Private schools

Players to watch

Kendrick De Luna:
TMI, G/F, sr.

Joshua Devora:
Central Catholic, G, sr.

Isaiah Fox:
Antonian, G/F, soph.

Aaron Garcia:
Holy Cross, G. soph.

Jaylen Gardner:
TMI, G, sr.

Geoffrey Maldonado:
Schertz John Paul II, G/F, sr.

Seth Wenthe:
Lutheran, C, sr.

Noah Wernsman:
Antonian, G/F, sr.

Outlook:
Antonian is replenishing its team with an influx of transfers that could put the Apaches in line for another state-title run. Antonian advanced to the TAPPS Class 6A semifinals last year, one season after winning it all. Antonian has made four straight state-tournament appearances, also winning the crown in 2019.

TMI has two of the area’s top players in Kendrick De Luna and Jaylen Gardner. That puts the Panthers in line for another state-title charge after losing against McKinney Christian in the TAPPS 5A championship.

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Twitter: @hinojosa_david