The 2020-2021 VYPE Austin high school boys basketball season preview continues with area UIL small school team breakdowns. Check them out below and stay tuned for more area preseason coverage in the coming days.
Big thanks to all the Central Texas programs and players who participated in VYPE Austin's third annual preseason boys and girls basketball photoshoot, the coaches who submitted information about their teams, Hill Country Indoor for allowing VYPE Media to host another event at your facility, and Whataburger and Ballogy for your partnerships.
UIL 4A Boys Basketball Team Breakdowns
Fredericksburg: The Battlin' Billieshad a 32-game win streak and aUIL 4A Region IV area round appearance during the 2019-2020 campaign and can march further in the 2020-2021 postseason with electric leaders likeco-UIL 28-4A Defensive MVPs Colby Brasher and Jayden Sanchez and first-team all-district player Dillon Rabon.
Austin LBJ Early College: The Jaguars won 19 games en route to a UIL 5A Region IV bi-district appearance last season and are expected to be a playoff contender again in UIL 4A during the 2020-2021 campaign with playmakers like first-team all-district athlete Jaikeam Maxwell and second-team all-district player Julian Smith.
Georgetown Gateway College Preparatory School: The Gators won 20 games and recorded a 2019-2020 UIL 3A Region IV bi-district appearance and have big plans for first-team all-district athlete Bradyn Cox and second-team all-district player Braeden Batton to continue the trend in the 2020-2021 campaign.
Salado: The Eagles soared to last season's 19 wins andUIL 4A Region IV bi-district berth and can produce more success during the 2020-2021 campaign with athletes like first-team all-district player Josh Goings and all-district honorable mention Peyton Miller.
Burnet: The Bulldogs are coming off a UIL 4A Region IV bi-district appearance and a 17-win season and want to top those marks with first-team all-district athletes Luke Kiser and Kam Ollison and all-district honorable mention Jaxson Denton during the 2020-2021 campaign.
Jarrell: The Cougars earned 16 wins and a UIL 3A Region IV bi-district berth and will need big performances from UIL 25-3A Sixth Man MVP Quinton Johnson, first-team all-district athlete Brennam Wilson and second-team all-district players Joseph Crathers and Joseph Shamburger to record a similar result in the higher UIL 4A classification.
Taylor: The Ducks advanced to the UIL 4A Region IV area round and won 21 games last winter, but have to replace a strong senior class to replicate that success in the 2020-2021 campaign.
Austin Achieve: The Polar Bears are ready to battle in their second UIL varsity season during the 2020-2021 campaign by leaning on second-team all-district athlete James Rivera and fellow contributors Jaheim Billison and Alfredo Macedo and learning from their 16-win inaugural 2019-2020 season in the state's largest high school league.
Manor New Technology: The Titans missed the UIL 3A postseason in the 2019-2020 season, but are trying to replicate their school's UIL 4A footballplayoff appearance this fall by leaning on second-team all-district athlete Justus Edwards and fellow contributor JaQuille Rosario.
La Grange: The Leopards amazingly were a UIL 4A Region IV bi-district finalist with only seven wins in the 2019-2020 campaign, so they plan on leaning on first-team all-district athlete Caden Cooper to find more success in the year to come.
Lake Belton: The Broncos are expected to compete in their first varsity season because of Christopher Jarrett, Leonard King and Floyd Bristol.
UIL 3A Boys Basketball Team Breakdowns
Little River Academy: The Bumblebees won 30 games and advanced to the UIL 3A Region III quarterfinal during the 2019-2020 season and are expected to sting the competition again in the 2020-2021 campaign because of all-region athletes Jaylin McWilliams and Tanner Rambeau, first-team all-district players Jerry Cephus and Darion Franklin and second-team all-district honoree Chris Preddie.
Blanco: The Panthers recorded an impressive 2019-2020 run that included 29 wins and a UIL 3A Region IV quarterfinal appearance and have big expectations for the 2020-2021 campaign with playmakers like all-region athlete andUIL 25-3A MVP Tristan Schlinke, first-team all-district players Caleb Meyer, Baylor Smith, Zack Wisdom and Gavin Young and second-team all-district honoree Mitchell Hebert.
Lago Vista: The Vikings won 18 games before recording a UIL 3A Region IV bi-district appearance in the 2019-2020 campaign and are expected to top those achievements with athletes likeUIL 25-3A Offensive MVP Marquise Pierce, first-team all-district player Lucas Lawless and second-team all-district honoree Mikey D'Ambrose.
Luling: The Eagles won 18 games and advanced to the UIL 3A Region IV bi-district round with playmakers likeUIL 27-3A Defensive MVP Stanzant Jackson, second-team all-district athlete Dario Munoz and all-district honorable mention Mark Montalbo.
Lorena: The Leopards made the most of their 12 victories during the 2019-2020 campaign because they finished as a UIL 4A Region III bi-district finalist and plan to build off that success with notable contributors likeUIL 18-4A Newcomer of the Year Graham Goolsby and second-team all-district athletes Vrail George and McCray Lewis.
Columbus: The Cardinals heated up late in the 2019-2020 season to earn 12 victories and advance to the UIL 3A Region IV bi-district round and know UIL 28-3A co-Defensive MVP Kaycon Wilson, first-team all-district athletes Kion Hurd and Jessie Upson and second-team all-district player Cole Edman will have big roles again in the 2020-2021 campaign.
Rogers: The Eagles won 13 games before finishing the 2019-2020 campaign at the UIL 3A Region III bi-district round and hope to top that in the 2020-2021 season with playmakers like first-team all-district athlete Ben Hutka and second-team all-district player Ty Sebek.
McGregor: The Bulldogs were a UIL 3A Region III bi-district finalist after 13 wins last season and have important athletes in first-team all-district playmaker Deondre Parker and second-team all-district contributor Dayton Threadgill to achieve more in the 2020-2021 campaign.
Brady: The Bulldogs earned a UIL 3A Region I bi-district berth and 14 wins during the 2019-2020 campaign and want to succeed more with second-team all-district athletes Bryce Davis and Parker Linnard leading the way in the 2020-2021 season.
Caldwell: The Hornets were a UIL 4A Region IV bi-district finalist with 17 wins during the 2019-2020 season and still have second-team all-district athlete Larry Davis in their classification drop.
UIL 2A Boys Basketball Team Breakdowns
Flatonia: The Bulldogs are motivated to top their UIL 2A Region IV area round finish from a year ago because they earned 27 wins during that run and have important returners in first-team all-district athletes Collin Bosl and Jonathan Netro, second-team all-district player Fidel Venegas and all-district honorable mentions Hagan Wagner, Holden Kloesel, Keyshaun Green, Luke Law and Juan Carlos Olivares.
Thorndale: The Bulldogs earned their 23rd win to advance to last season's UIL 2A Region IV area round and want to extend their very accomplished18-yearplayoff streak with leaders like first-team all-district athlete Logan Davis, all-district honorable mentions Chance Betak, Stryker Leschber and Branson McCoy and fellow contributor Dean Johnson.
Schulenburg: The Shorthorns stormed to the UIL 3A Region IV area round with 17 wins last season and like their 2020-2021 chances because of players like UIL 28-3A co-Defensive MVP Kenny King and second-team all-district athletes Brett Janecek and Alex Lozano and their new UIL 2A classification home.
Rosebud-Lott: The Cougars charged to 23 wins and a UIL 2A Region III quarterfinal appearance during the 2019-2020 season and have a boatload of talent in UIL 17-2A Defensive MVP John Reyna,UIL 17-2A Sixth Man MVP Jordan Landrum, first-team all-district athlete Steven Buhl, second-team all-district player Nathan Truesdale and all-district honorable mention Johnathan Adamez.
Marlin: The Bulldogs earned 22 victories and a UIL 2A Region III quarterfinal appearance in the 2019-2020 season and have big plans with UIL 18-2A Defensive MVP Tydae Mayes,UIL 18-2A Newcomer of the Year Keshawn Thomas andfirst-team all-district athlete Ty Harris throughout the 2020-2021 campaign.
Crawford: The Pirates made the most of their 15 wins a year ago because they marched to the UIL 2A Region III semifinal and are searching for more with returning playmakers like all-region athlete and UIL 17-2A co-MVP Cole Reid, first-team all-district players Tanner Merenda and Ty Williams, second-team all-district honoree Trey Dobie and all-district honorable mentionBreck Chambers.
San Saba: The Armadillos earned the UIL 2A Region IV championship because oftheir 19th victory of the 2019-2020 season and are trying to finish what they started with on-court talents like all-state athlete andUIL 27-2A MVP Logan Glover and first-team all-district player Risien Shahan.
Weimar: The Wildcats are a motivated group going into the 2020-2021 campaign because they lost last year's UIL 2A Region IV semifinal by a single point and still have leaders in all-state athlete and UIL 29-2A co-Offensive MVP Joey Ramirez and second-team all-district player Felix Sanchez to make more noise in the postseason.
Chilton: The Pirates finished their 19-win surge from a season ago at the UIL 2A Region III area round and are looking for more in the 2020-2021 campaign with notable returners inUIL 17-2A co-Offensive MVP Kevin Gaines, first-team all-district athletes Daylon Cromer and JB Davis and second-team all-district players McKeller Cook and Daylon Ford.
Goldthwaite: The Eagles were a UIL 2A Region II area round finalist after 13 wins a year ago, but have some rebuilding to do for the 2020-2021 season because they graduated their all-district players from that run.
UIL 1A Boys Basketball Team Breakdowns
Calvert: The Trojans won 25 games en route to the 2019-2020 UIL 1A Region IV quarterfinal and will be a force again in the 2020-2021 campaign because of all-state andUIL 26-1A co-MVP MJ Thomas, all-region and UIL 26-1A co-MVP Tre'Quinton Green,UIL 26-1A co-Offensive MVP Ja'Quarious Ford, first-team all-district athletes Erwin Jones, Antonio Porter and Billy Thompson and all-district honorable mention Gio Diaz.
Cherokee: The Indians have a lot going for them heading into the 2020-2021 campaign because they finished last season with 22 wins and a UIL 1A Region III quarterfinal berth and have a key cast of characters in all-region athlete andUIL 17-1A MVP Tristan Arkansas, UIL 17-1A Defensive MVP Wyatt Stotts, first-team all-district players Joey Bond andGabe Morris and second-team all-district honoree Isaac Graves.
Dime Box: The Longhorns stormed to 23 victories and a UIL 1A Region IV quarterfinal appearance last season and are excited for the 2020-2021 campaignbecause of the return ofUIL 30-1A Defensive MVP Masyn Spacek, first-team all-district athlete Blake Scott and second-team all-district playerDilyn Kieschnick.
Waelder: The Wildcats earned 22 victories and marched to the UIL 1A Region IV semifinal last season and can produce another playoff run in the 2020-2021 campaign if they develop some depth around all-state athlete andUIL 30-1A MVP Isaiah Jones-Miller.
Richland Springs: The Coyotes found their way to the 2019-2020 UIL 1A Region III quarterfinal with single digit victories and are expected to achieve more with talents likefirst-team all-district honorees Jayden Bryant and Landon Burkhart.
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