Who’s Next? – 2024: Section 3
Written by: TJ Eck on April 1, 2024
With standout seniors like Ethan Benne, Ben Troyer, Zach Kirk, Artie Poindexter, and Carter Horst moving on, there will be a new wave of stars in the Lancaster-Lebanon League next season. Over the coming days we will be taking a look at the top returning players who have a chance to become the next group of superstars in the L-L League in a series entitled “Who’s Next?”. We continue with Section 3.
NOTE: Statistics submitted to LLHoops.com by head coaches and available to view here via Lancaster Online.
NOTE: Manheim Central is moving from Section 2 to Section 3 for the 2024-2025 season.
Who’s Next? – 2024: Section 3
Sawyer Floyd – Donegal (Rising Senior Forward)
Statistically speaking, Floyd was one of the best players in Section 3 of the L-L League during the 2023-2024 campaign. He averaged 12.9 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per contest. Floyd has the potential to score even more as a senior and averaging a double-double is not outside the realm of possibility.
Joey Williams – Donegal (Rising Junior Guard)
The lefty is one of the premier returning shooters in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Williams drilled 42 three-pointers while shooting 37.8% from deep as a sophomore. He averaged 9.5 points per game this past season and should see the number go up this coming winter.
DeAndre White – Donegal (Rising Senior Guard)
White is arguably one of the top “glue” guys in the L-L League. He did all the little things for Donegal as a junior. Oh, and his stats weren’t too bad either. White averaged 8.3 points per game last season while leading the Indians in assists.
Micah Gray – ELCO (Rising Senior Guard)
ELCO’s top two scorers from last season have moved on. Gray is next in line. He averaged an admirable 10.8 points per game as a junior while shooting 40.6% from the field.
Kaden Shultz-Tillison – ELCO (Rising Junior Guard)
Shultz-Tillison was a varsity contributor as a sophomore when he averaged 7.6 points per game and shot 38.3% from deep. At six-foot-two, he has great size for a perimeter player. There’s immense potential for Shultz-Tillison to become the next star in Myerstown.
Chase Smucker – Lampeter-Strasburg (Rising Senior Guard)
The top returning player in the Lancaster-Lebanon League is Chase Smucker. The L-S shooting guard is already a bonafide star. He averaged 18.0 points per game while shooting 47% from the field, 42% from three, and 85% at the free throw line as a junior. Smucker’s senior season has a chance to be historic as he chases a number of school records.
Colton Hegener – Lancaster Catholic (Rising Junior Guard)
Hegener has two seasons remaining at Lancaster Catholic but has already proven himself to be a steady contributor for the Crusaders. He averaged 7.5 points per game as a sophomore but his biggest impact comes on the defensive end where he is a pesky perimeter defender who creates steals and turnovers.
Chase Book – Manheim Central (Rising Junior Guard)
Every year there are players who make a jump from contributor to star. Chase Book might just be one of those players. He started for the Barons as a sophomore and averaged 9.0 points per game while knocking down 39 three-pointers. Book has a dynamic offensive skill set that could have him among the league leaders in scoring during the 2024-2025 season.
Mason Rodgers – Manheim Central (Rising Senior Guard)
Rodgers is a microwave scorer. He can heat up in a hurry. The Manheim Central shooting guard averaged eight points per game while coming off the bench for a large part of his junior season. His high-arcing jumper is one of the best in the league, as evidenced by his 50 three-pointers this past season.
Ryan Kenneff – Manheim Central (Rising Senior Guard)
The tough guard performed well on both ends of the floor as a junior. Kenneff averaged 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while leading the team in charges taken.
Vincent Thaler – Octorara (Rising Junior Forward)
There’s a talented rising junior class at Octorara and the leader of the group is Thaler. He was a starter at power forward for an 18-win team as a sophomore this past season. Thaler averaged 10.7 points per game in 2023-2024.
Lazo Christou, Vito Vespe, and Chase Fetrow – Octorara (Rising Junior Guards)
The trio of sophomores played major minutes for the Braves in 2023-2024 when they combined to average 15 points per game. Christou is a prototypical point guard, Vespe excels as a two-way player on the wing, and Fetrow is the team’s best shooter.
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