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If the preseason state rankings are any indication, it should be a big year for area boys basketball.
As the teams prepared to start their seasons this week, four area boys teams were ranked by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. Sam Houston and Central Catholic are the highest-rated teams, assigned the No. 7 slots in the Class 3A and Large Private School polls. In Class 4A, Harlandale was No. 20 and Lanier No. 21 among the 25 ranked teams.
No area Class 5A teams are listed in the state rankings, but East Central could change that before season’s end with a mix of established veterans and a pair of talented newcomers.
District 28-3A
Favorite: Sam Houston.
Key players
Sam Houston: Jordon Harris, Devin Allen, Miles Thornton, Dewayne Brown, Robert Christian and Brandon Vargas.
Quote: “This team has better character than previous teams that have gone to regionals. That could put us over the hump,” – Hurricanes coach Ike Thornton.
District 28-4A
Favorite: Brennan. Area playoff contenders: Lanier, Highlands, Edison. Sleeper: Burbank.
Key players
Lanier: Rodrigo Garcia, Ajax Reyes, Louis Garza, Fred Rosales, Chris Salazar, Isaiah Vargas.
Highlands: DeMarcus Hartfield, Jamaria Moody, Joseph Jackson, Jordan DeLuna.
Edison: Lorenzo Vela, Marcelo Castro, Antonio Alvarado, Justin Torres.
Burbank: Moses Montalvo, Joseph Rangel, Francisco Hernandez, Tru Bradford.
Quote: “I kind of feel like we have a great shot to be in the top two. We’ll take our chances with Brennan. I think the (chances are) pretty good, in my eyes.” – Lanier coach Rudy Bernal.
District 29-4A
Favorite: Harlandale. Area playoff contenders: McCollum, Kennedy. Sleepers: Memorial, Southside.
Key players
Harlandale: Brandon Ramon, Armando Guerrero, Jose Salinas, Ram Torres, Jacob Martinez.
McCollum: Trey Johnson, Nathan Martinez, Angel Loera, Joey Villarreal, Fernando Huerta.
Kennedy: Erick Moncada, Isaac Castro, Chris Casas, Isaiah Garcia.
Memorial: Joe Aguilar, Richard Casares, Bryan Obregon.
Southside: Drevon Brown, Diego Avila, Francisco Solis.
Quote: “We’re going to be a little different. We’re not going to have a Rocky Briseno, who can score 20 points a game, but I think our overall depth will be better and we’ll have six or seven guys who can lead us in scoring in any game.” – Harlandale coach Chris Adamek.
District 28-5A
Favorite: East Central. Area playoff contenders: South San, Southwest.
Key players
East Central: Ceddrick Ali, Brandon McClure, Jeremy Jones, Eric Ray, Ethan White, Brandon Keno.
South San: Olando Lopez, Eric Alcozer, Jesse Samarripas, Thomas Fonseca.
Southwest: Aaron Embrey, DeVanta Hayes, Nigel Thompson.
Quote: “We scored 60 points in a half in one of our scrimmages. We’re going to try to get up and down the floor. I think we’ll really be able to pressure a lot.” – East Central coach Jeff Sweet.
TAPPS
Key players
Central Catholic: Tony Lewis, Daniel Kellum, Chris Paz, Matt Wetesnik, Logan Huff, Jonah Mahone.
Holy Cross: Alfred Alvarado, Jonathan Bailey.
MORE TO COME
SAN ANTONIO SOUTH SIDE SPORTS 