OTR Exposure’s Top 25 Preseason Team Rankings 2020-2021

With the 1st day of official practice being 9 days away, we’re releasing our first top 25 team rankings of the 2020-2021 season.

 

1.Legacy School of Sports Sciences– To call this team loaded is an understatement.. Seven seniors that’ll play collegiate basketball, a national schedule, and a culture that’s being cultivated for long term success.. Easy choice as #1. Coach PJ Couisnard has turned his program into a place where players want to go to get better.

 

2.Shadow Creek– Made a run to the 5A regional finals last year, & are primed to do it again in 6A. UH commit Ramon Walker has an incredible supporting cast, including a new back court of Brian Gordon & Cam Amboree, Shawn Jones is their emotional leader & his maturity will be key to their success.

 

3.Level Up Prep– Gilbert Good has always had an eye for talent, even when others may not se it.  Trey Senegal, Micah Glover, & Zion Obalna might not be familiar names to most but best believe after this season they will be. Sophomore Justin Scott is also a budding player in the making.

 

4.Manvel– Is this the year that Manvel gets over the hump. No more excuses about them being young, the time is now. Senior laden team led by PG Zaire Hayes, quality depth, a presence inside with Shaun Walker, Mason McBride at the wing, & high energy guys like Chris Morris & Azari Woods make this a team that will be scary.

 

5.Premier Academy– Another team with national level ambitions. 7′ Dok Mourdar, David Gai- Tubek, Uche Chukwudozie, & Sam Curtis Jr, were going to be a formidable group. Then last week they got an early Christmas gift with the addition of scoring guard Will Young, who transfers in from Shadow Creek. Once they gel, look out!

 

6.Elkins– This could be a special year for the Knights! Seniors Shane Bell, Jacolbi Harris, and Josh Fanuiel bring experience and toughness to the table. Underclassmen Chris Johnson & Jackson Fields are talented and ready to make an immediate impact this year. Jeff Iroh brings physicality off of the bench & coach Albert Thomas will have these guys ready for a run to San Antonio.

 

7. Beaumont United– The three headed monster of Terrance Arceneaux, Wesley Yates III, & Trealyn Porchia are tougher than day old donuts. Yates has completely come into his own & primed to be a player of the year candidate. Arceneaux has made his ascension into one of the betters juniors in the country and Porchia is a top dual sport athlete in his class. The key for this group will be the other pieces and how well they can star in their roles.

 

8.Hightower– They were robbed out of a 5A State crown last year due to Covid. They lost 4 senior starters but return the Pre season player of the year in junior Bryce Griggs. Senior big man Tyrone Baker is a skilled, athletic big who will take some of the scoring pressure off of Griggs. Jacory Chatman will have to take on a greater load this year, being one of the few holdovers from last year’s team. Never count out a team that has Bryce Griggs playing & Stephen Woods coaching.

 

9.Summer Creek– I like this group coach Kenneth Coleman has assembled. New PG Amaree Abram, Jaleen Goodman, Jaylon Johnson, & Reyce Allen will be tough to handle. Throw in the 6’5 athletic, high motor, freshman Jakeel Registe, and it could get real problematic for those other teams in district 21-6A.

 

10.Atascocita– Speaking of district 21-6A, the reigning champs are back and they will have a mix of veterans and newcomers to power this year’s team. Kaleb Stewart, Tom Hart III, Justin Collins, Christian Ashby are battled tested. The junior crop, Kaleb Pouncy, Angel Johnson, Aj Angust, Connor Miller and a healthy David Martinez will make it tough on the older guys in practice and the other teams in the district.

 

11. Clear Brook– They play hard, they are intense, they are relentless. I tweeted a couple of weeks ago that watching Clear brook play, it seems like they have 8 guys on the court the way they fly around. Led by the “Milly Boys”, sophomore Marcus “Smurf” Millender, & his brother, junior Kemauri “Kemo” Millender, they are on the most explosive back courts in the city. No one will want to see this team come playoff time.

 

12. Houston Christian– Seniors Noah Kon, Kobe Haynes and Elijah Bernstein have a combined 10,087 minutes of varsity action.. That was a facetious number, but I’m not sure if any other back court has the experience of these 3. They will be called upon once again to lead an undersized team to a SPC crown. Nathan Self will also be counted on to bring leadership and shooting. The winning culture that coaches Ron Crandall & Teddy Wheeler have implemented in this program is the reason year in and year out they are contenders.

 

13.Woodlands Christian- A very well rounded team that battles each possession.  Austin Benigni, Chanse Perkins, Cedric Cook will do what they do best. Being a guards game, ‘24 Zion Pipkin will have big shoes to fill, and we have no doubt that he will rise into his role. The addition of ’23 Wyatt Boeker will help as well.

 

14.Bellaire- After making what some thought a “surprising” run, Bellaire comes back with their same core of senior backcourt Elijah Lawrence (Rice commit) & Jaylon Calvin, with an improved and more confident ’23 Jacolb Cole. Battle tested and smart they will find themselves in good position when playoffs come.

 

 

15.Concordia Lutheran- Losing 2 big men hurt, but adding ’21 Griffin Datcher makes their daunting 1-3-1 even better, and makes them tough to defend at the wing positions alongside none other than RJ Keene (Boise St commit). They still have ’22 Trey Miller who has really improved his athleticism, and can give opposing guards fits defensively. They will need valuable contributions from Beaux Brashear, Trey McClure, and Kaden Borne this year.

 

16.Cy Ranch- A team who probably underachieved last year, is now reloaded with what we believe to be an even better fit. Transfer from Williamston HS in Michigan, ’22 Mason Docks is now pacing this team and keeping them under control with his scoring, playmaking, and high IQ play. ’22 Dubem Muoneke gives the toughness and athletic presence. ’21 Franklin Sampson is a sleeper contributor that does all the little things. ’22 Colby Raspberry will make shots and be solid all around. ’23 Jaylen Benard seems to have been a deadly 6th man threat providing scoring, shooting, and being athletic in transition.

 

17. Cy Creek- Creek could arguably be in the top 5 talent wise and guard play wise. Had a rough preseason, but every game they’ve played has been close if not winning majority of the game. The tandem of ‘21s DJ Richards and Jaylen Wysinger always put on a show putting the ball in the basket. ’21s Braylon Haynes and Jaylen Salsman are very nice pieces that play the right way and keep the team flowing and aren’t scared of the moment. Corey Hadnott coming off JV will give a boost as well. If they get a decent body to bang and play physical, as well as closing their games out, they will be a team you don’t want to see in 6A.

 

18. Paetow- Coming off a district championship, Paetow got a couple big transfers in ’21s Khi Watkins & Everett Marlatt that may have Paetow clicking even better. Watkins great in transition with a nice pullup; and Marlatt an energizer and another athletic body. We know ’22 Charles Chukwu is going to dominate and demand the most attention. But with transfers, and Trevor Frank returning with improved handle and shot making Paetow has the tools to make a sneaky push in their route of the 5A playoffs.

 

19.Cy Woods- This team is the epitome of solid. Solid physically, and solid in their play. They have the size and the length to defend with Damian Watson, Pierce Matthews, and Jared Viesca. Trevor Passmore provides shooting. Whole team returning and being a tight knit group, I believe if they can kick it into gear, and really play to their strengths they can be a dark horse in the Cy Fair district.

 

20.C.E King- Totally revitalizing the feel of their team was Javon Jackson transferring in to play for his dad. Dynamic player they needed. They have Lavar Johnson who’s constantly improving controlling the inside, ‘23 Kenneth Lewis gives them a slashing wing presence, and Jaylon Jackson & Tyshawn Archie are skilled guards who will most definitely impact the game. Can’t take C.E King lightly.

 

21.Crosby- ’22 PJ Haggerty back off a superb scoring season will be looking to get a whole lot more baskets this season. Simple as that. Looking to come into his own this season will be ’22 Sean Elkinton; this summer he was a double double machine, and trying to expand his game out to the 3pt line. Added production and confidence will be needed every night from both of these guys.

 

22.Lake Creek- Probably one of the best 3 point shooting teams in the city. Execute their offense very fluidly. Jordan Fitch is really a spark and I believe the engine of the team, assisted and scored really well all preseason. ’21 Hudson Boyd consistently hits shots and is extremely high IQ. Other players like ’21 6’6 Ty George who shoots with range is athletic and rebounds well – and ‘21 Charlie Johnson who does all the inside hustle work; are underrated pieces that help this team sync.

 

23.Kingwood- Probably one of the bigger teams in the city. They run their high low triple post actions in their offense very deliberately. ’22 Demi Areola had a great summer and is looking to build more momentum, he owns his spot and crashes the offensive glass hard. Alma College commit Billy Gould will continue to knock down shots and be solid. They also have some good complimentary players ’22 Jalen Hill is a freak athlete who causes problems defensively and on the offensive glass. And Mason Carlos is tough to handle when he gets position inside.

 

24.Klein Forest- ENERGY personified. They are going to pick you up full court, speed you up, and really get under your skin. And if they are making shots and the fans are involved, it could be anybody’s game. ’22 Jalen Collins is a big 3pt threat. ’23 Chandler Williams & ’21 Tavion Powers are athletic work horses around the paint. And of course senior Marion Williams will be back leading the way looking to get things done this year.

 

25.Katy Taylor- Had some lowkey impressive wins in preseason. They play together, and know their roles, and they compete with all they have. They may not look like much, but when you have Jake Arnold (HBU commit) making all kinds of plays you find yourself in the game. ’21 Luke St. Julien is super smart, and crafty when it comes to getting to spots and playmaking. ’21 Anthony Pelzer brings energy and motor each possession. A tough team playing the right way, with a dynamic player can find their way into some Ws.

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