HOWE LIONS
BOYS
Coach: Britt Brown
23-24 Record: 12-18
After reaching the area tournament finals last season only to be denied a trip to the Big House, the Lions look to complete their mission in the 2024-25 season as four starters return to provide a foundation for success on the court.
Topping the list of proven performers is VYPE Top 100 nominee Garrett Smith (5-11, Sr.) who begins his third season at point guard after averaging 3-plus assists and 7.6 points per contest. “Garrett is the catalyst of this team that makes us go,” said head coach Britt Brown who enters his second season at the helm. “A knockdown shooter, he’s just as valuable distributing the ball to teammates for scoring chances.”
The Lions coach is all smiles when looking at the lineup that welcomes the play of seniors Trendon Corley (6-0, Sr.) and Andruw Covey (5-11, Sr.) and the non-stop energy from a trio of juniors including Ethan Dalton (6-1, Jr.) who collected 6.1 rebounds in addition to scoring 5.9 points per game playing along side Wesley Toney (6-0, Jr.) who quick hands produced 2-plus steals in addition to adding 7.9 points per contest while teammate Reece Harrison (6-1, Jr.) tossed in 8.6 points each night as well as adding 1.3 steals.
There’s depth on the Lions roster as eight of the top 12 performers return including front line prowess from Jaydon Dugan (6-3, Sr.) and Trey Hildebrant (6-3, Jr.) who coach Brown defines a “big bodied, high IQ big that can step out and hit the three.”
Among the other expected to make a difference in the outcome is Jace Akins (5-11, Sr.) while Gavin Lute (6-1, So.) will lead a group of underclassmen along with Aiden Scott (5-11, So.), Diego Rojas (5-8, So.), Gauge Wann (5-11, Jr.), Andy Barnhart (6-2, Jr.), Cooper McClain (5-8 Jr.), and a quartet of newcomers including Jacob Leatherwood (6-1, Fr.), Zane McClain (5-8, Fr.), Alex Perez (5-6, Fr.) and Logan Gardenhire (5-9, Fr.).
