I'll also announce my projected order of finish and "first team" preseason all-stars today. The second-teamers and "all-rookies" will come tomorrow.
We'll start with my WCSSAA Projected Order of Finish:
1. Waterloo CI
2. Cameron Heights CI
3. Grand River CI
4. Huron Heights SS
5. Galt CI
6. Bluevale CI
7. SJAM
8. Eastwood CI
9. Jacob Hespeler SS
10. Kitchener CI
11. Glenview Park SS
12. Forest Heights CI
13. Southwood SS
14. Elmira DSS
15. Preston HS
WCSSAA First-Team Preseason All-Stars
Juwan Miller, G, Huron Heights (5'10"/4th Year)
Jack Simmons, F, Galt CI (6'8"/5th Year)
Jacob Ranton, F, WCI (6'7"/5th Year)
Vedran Dmitrovic, G, Cameron Hts. (6'0"/5th Year)
Jamal Murray, G, Grand River (6'4"/2nd Year)
Team Capsules
1. Waterloo Collegiate Vikings
The Vikes enter the season as my "pre-season favourite". Sure, they went 1-2 at the Heinbuch, but you have to consider that they're a little late out of the starting blocks due to an extended volleyball season that ended with a silver medal at OFSAA.
WCI returns all 5 starters from a season ago, including a massive frontline featuring Jacob Ranton (6'7"), Dani Elgadi (6'6") and Malcolm Piazza (6'8"). Adam Anagnostopoulos and shooting guard Zach Totzke patrol the backcourt. John McGowan is another veteran guard presence off the bench, while rookie Nick Johnny can provide some instant offense.
2. Cameron Heights Collegiate Golden Gaels
Like WCI, Cameron Heights also returns virtually all of its scoring offense from a season ago.
The Gaels will be led by preseason first-team selection Vedran Dmitrovic (6'0"/PG), while Nem Simic (6'1"/SG) will join him in the backcourt. Up front, 6'6" Vlad Matovic is a threat on offense and defensively with his shot blocking ability, while Jason Thompson (6'2"/F) is an athletic swing forward.
Top junior grads include Nikola Trninic and Gord Erkic.
3. Grand River Collegiate Renegades
Despite losing WCSSAA all-star Filip Cvrkalj to graduation, the Rens get a huge boost with two of the top junior players from a season ago moving up to join returning G/F Chuder Teny.
In fact, Jamal Murray, a 6'4" grade 10 guard, pumped home 31 points the other day against Guelph JF Ross, so it appears that he will be able to transition with relative ease to the senior ranks. Murtada Khamis (PG, Grade 11) will help to solidify the backcourt.
Forwards Chris Coates and Nikola Bovan will be required to do their part on the defensive end and on the backboards.
4. Huron Heights SS Huskies
The Huskies are set to climb the ranks of the WCSSAA standings thanks in part to a couple of key transfers that have made their way over to Huron this year.
5'10" PG (4th Year) Juwan Miller is the most decorated of the bunch, owing two WCSSAA championship plaques, a first-team WCSSAA all-star senior plaque, and a CWOSSA junior championship medal to this point in his high school career. The addition of Miller instantly makes the Huskies a contender for one of WCSSAA's CWOSSA berths.
That's not all, though. Junior Bradford (ex-CHCI junior) is a 6'0" SF who held his own in the Heinbuch, contributing 7 points and 6 rebounds against Toronto Oakwood. Tyrelle Rafferty has also transferred over from Eastwood CI, although I understand that his eligibility is still under review.
Returning sharp-shooter Darcy Jacobs will bolster the backcourt, while Paul Gubek is another G/F who can stretch the defense. Top junior grads from a Huron team that advanced to CWOSSA last season include Arshid Babury, Ahmed Radi and Tristan Kozub.
5. Galt Collegiate Ghosts
A couple of key returnees along with strong junior grads have optimism at a high level in Cambridge. The Ghosts should be quite competitive in WCSSAA, and also at "AAA" CWOSSA where they are expected to compete with Brantford North Park for the CWOSSA crown.
6'8" SF Jack Simmons has the ability to go inside or out, as one of WCSSAA's top dual-threat forwards. The addition of 6'5" SG TJ Lall from the junior ranks should ease some of the scoring burden off of Simmons; Lall had a 27-point outing against Mother Teresa this past weekend at the Heinbuch.
Guard Scott Holton and Forward Darren Saunders were unavailable this weekend at the Heinbuch, but will be key to Galt's success. Lazar Stevanovic and Travis Simpson are other junior grads that should make an impact.
6. Bluevale Collegiate Knights
The Knights have several veterans (and a couple new faces) that will try to mix together to form a WCSSAA contender.
Among the returnees, Lukas Seibert, John Efechaobor and Jeevan Sidhu will be key to Bluevale's success as will grade 10 Savo Krajisnik and Garret Large.
Centre Wellington transfer Jameson Drimmie Merkus should see plenty of court time and be able to contribute immediately.
7. SJAM Highlanders
The 'Landers have a few players back from last year's WCSSAA runner-up and CWOSSA semifinalist squad, including 6'6" forward Quinn Turner and 6'3" SF Nathaniel Ellis (a 2nd team WCSSAA all-star) along with guard Theshawn Barry. Replacing the offense generated by now-graduated guard Ben Reyhani, last year's scoring leader, will be the big question for SJAM to answer this year.
6'6" F Brett Parrott is the top player coming up from the junior squad.
8. Eastwood Collegiate Rebels
The Rebels will be youthful, but athletic, and should be vastly improved from a season ago when they did not make the WCSSAA playoffs.
Key members of last year's WCSSAA junior finalist squad move up, including G Ousmane Kromah, F Tre Nicholson, PG Izzy Nemeth and SG Sydney Stewart. They will certainly be undersized, but do have the athleticism to make up for some of that deficiency.
Overall, the Rebels are likely still a year away from making some serious noise, but they mustn't be overlooked this season either.
Tomorrow: "All-Rookie" Team, Second Team All-Star Selections and a rundown of Teams 9-15 in the WCSSAA league.
