HockomockSports.com provides a preview of the high school boys basketball teams for the Hockomock League. We share the Franklin info here and provide the link to the page with all the other team previews.
Franklin
2019-2020 Record: 18-6
2019-2020 Finish: Reached D1 Central Final
Coach: CJ Neely
"Franklin is another team that will feature plenty of new faces for the 2020-2021 season. Graduation claimed all five starters and six of the top eight players in the rotation, meaning the Panthers will be an inexperienced group when the season tips off in January.
Not only did the Panthers lose 1,000-point scorer Chris Edgehill to graduation, but they’ll also have to replace the offensive production of the likes of Brayden Sullivan (9.8 points per game), Steven Karayan (9.6), and Jack Rudolph (8.5). Head coach CJ Neely will lean on his two returners in Declan Walmsley (8.5 points per game) and Andrew Byfield, both played valuable minutes at the varsity level last year. Walmsley is the most seasoned of the group, scoring in double figures in 10 games last year, including a career-high 24 points in a win over Weston.
Both Byfield and Walmsley can score in a variety of ways, but more importantly, they are familiar with the defense-first approach the Panthers take as a program. Even with an entirely new starting lineup, and new faces coming off the bench, Neely’s high expectations for the defensive end remain the same. Franklin has ranked at or near the top of points allowed per game in every season since Neely took over and that remains the standard for the Panthers. Walmsley and Byfield can both score in a variety of ways so the Panthers will lean on them offensively, especially early, but look for Franklin to be a well-balanced offense.
“The guys have really worked hard in the offseason to improve their skills as well as their strength and conditioning and it shows on the court,” Neely said. “We have a lot of players battling each day for minutes and roles on the court which has made for very competitive practices. This is a tight group who will be fun to coach and watch grow throughout the season.”
For all the previews of the boys basketball teams around the Hockomock League
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| FHS - 2020-2021 Boys Basketball Preview by HockomockSports.com |
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