Here are 21 boys' basketball players to watch in Monroe County in 2023-24
Monroe County has more than its fair share of talented boys' basketball players, from perimeter shooters to high-flying dunkers, tough slashers to defensive specialists. Each team has multiple players that will stand out among the rest, and there's even a freshman that will look to prove he can compete with the best.
Here are 21 boys' basketball players to watch in Monroe County this season:
Bryceson Dobie, East Stroudsburg North, guard, Sr.
Dobie is one of two players closing in on 1,000 career points for the Timberwolves, and he'll have a chance to eclipse it before halfway through the season. The senior guard is one of the more significant threats from 3-point range, but he isn't afraid to put it on the floor. The challenge for him will be to be a well-rounded player on offense, even though he'll be responsible for a lot of the scoring.
Nathaniel Wilder, East Stroudsburg North, guard/forward, Sr.
Wilder is the other guy closing in on 1,000 career points, and his game is antithetical to Dobie. While Dobie is a perimeter threat who can drive, Wilder is a bonafide slasher who can finish through contact. The key for him is to be more of a threat from 3-point range, and early indications show that defenses won't be able to leave him.
Preview: East Stroudsburg North boys' basketball looks to up the ante on defense this season
Jaen Chatman, East Stroudsburg South, guard, Jr.
The Cavaliers lost a lot from last year's district championship team, but head coach Shawn Munford still has Chatman, who has an argument to be the best guard in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. Chatman has gotten into great shape and has an explosive first step with the bounce to challenge anyone at the rim. The only thing fans may not see much is his playmaking, which results from the team needing him to score more than anything else.
Shane Plante-King, East Stroudsburg South, guard, Jr.
Daunte Williams would've made this list, but with him coming off of an injury, how he returns remains to be seen. Insert Plante-King, who finished his first season of varsity football and is one of the few people that could legitimately challenge Chatman at the rim. Chatman is going to need someone else to step up on the team, and while it may be Williams, Plante-King has the athleticism and finishing ability to be a No. 2
Paxton Shemansky, East Stroudsburg South, guard, Fr.
The only freshman on the list, Shemansky has the ability that would help Chatman and Plante-King greatly: he can shoot. This isn't to say that he'll be a 40% shooter or threatening to break a school record as a freshman, but the lefty is more than good enough to stretch the defense. His role is easy; when the other two drive and force the defense to collapse, be ready to catch and shoot. Simple, but his shooting floor now makes defenses keep an eye on him. And playing off Chatman will lead to a lot of opportunities for him to prove his worth.
Dom Bojko, Notre Dame East Stroudsburg, forward, Sr.
This isn't hyperbole: Bojko is one of the best shooting bigs in the area. The 6-foot-7 forward put a lot of effort into his touch, and his textbook shooting stroke will be on full display for the Spartans. Don't expect him to be a point forward, but his ball handling will be an issue for other bigs. Even though Notre Dame is 1A, he'll be a challenge for any opponent this season.
Xavier Spears, Notre Dame East Stroudsburg, guard, Sr.
The only reason Bojko isn't the best player on the Spartans is because he's playing alongside a 1,000-point scorer. Spears isn't going to wow anyone athletically, but he has a quick first step and is an acrobatic finisher at the rim. He'll have more help this year with Bojko, but less attention on him only makes him more of a threat.
Preston Prothero, Notre Dame East Stroudsburg, guard, Jr.
Several players on Matt Gallagher's squad have significantly improved in the offseason, but few more than Prothero. He worked on correcting his form to be a factor as a shooter now, but he's a strong left-handed driver who will go in amongst the trees inside and finish. His strength also allows him to absorb contact.
Sean Hallenback, Pleasant Valley, guard, Sr.
Hallenback is an old-school guard with a great IQ and is crafty on the ball. He's going to beat you with his change of pace more than pure speed, but he can occasionally blow by defenders. Hallenback also shoots the mid-range jumper, another factor defenses have to account for.
Dakoda Lucas and Joseph Greene, Pleasant Valley, Sr.
Both players are listed together because both are key players that are dealing with injuries. Lucas packs an athletic punch in a small frame, but he's dealt with injuries on top of playing football in a triple option offense. Greene is one of the Bears' best shooters, but an ankle injury put him in a boot for a couple of weeks. He's out of the boot now and will be cleared soon, but he and Lucas need to be healthy and effective for Pleasant Valley to be competitive.
Taemas Jones, Pocono Mountain East, guard, Sr.
Jones missed most of last season due to a blood disease that nearly took his life. But when he finally returned to playing condition, he had a 40-point game against the EPC-leading Pocono Mountain West. That's a great story alone, but his bully-ball style puts constant pressure on defenses in transition. He's hungry to capitalize on his last season.
Aiden Pierre, Pocono Mountain East, guard, So.
Pierre is one of two sophomores on the list, and head coach Mark Dudley is high on the young player in the short and long term. Pierre is developing a perimeter game after being forced to play in the frontcourt in earlier years. He has promising athleticism and his jump shot is coming along. Dudley said that when Pierre's career is over, he has a chance of being a career 1,000-point scorer.
Parker Scoz, Pocono Mountain East, forward, Jr.
Scoz has solid size as he's pushing 6-foot-6, and it helps that he has a soft touch around the rim. He's also a capable finisher above in the rim when he has a clear lane. The factor that will determine if Scoz will be good or great is his strength in the interior; if he can be strong inside, he can average double figures for the Cardinals.
Adrian Brito, Pocono Mountain West, forward, Jr.
Brito played an integral role for a Panther team that finished with the best record in the EPC. At 6 feet, 6 inches, he had incredible touch around the basket and was in much better shape after breaking his leg as a freshman. He's continuing to work on his body while incorporating more of a perimeter game to complement his interior scoring.
KJ Coles, Pocono Mountain West, guard, So.
As a freshman, Coles tied the school record with 68 made 3-pointers. He's also navigates well in the pick-and-roll and was a participant in the Pangos All-East Freshman/Sophomore camp. He's already generating D-I interest and his stock will continue to rise as he leads West in 2023-24.
Devin Artis, Pocono Mountain West, guard, Sr.
Head coach Rich Williams challenged Devin Artis to improve his offensive game in the offseason, and so far he is answering the call. Artis is a defensive specialist, usually charged with guarding the team's best guard and providing some toughness. He'll have the ball more in his hands this year with a chance to show how far he's come on that side of the ball.
Preview: Pocono Mountain West boys' hoops needs 'maturity' from its young roster this season
Rich Gilmore, Stroudsburg, forward, Sr.
Stroudsburg is one of the most athletic teams in the EPC, and that starts with Gilmore. He's a true above-the-rim threat that will be a solid rim protector for Tarik El-Bassiouni. With Kevin Polonia playing center, Gilmore can use his speed and strength to defend on the perimeter as well.
Denzel Key, Stroudsburg, forward, Sr.
Like Gilmore, Key is another above-the-rim big who's a constant threat to throw it down. But he's opened up his game by adding a jump shot, something he didn't have last year. He'll draw a lot of attention himself, but the high-low possibility between him and Gilmore could be a game-changer for the Mounties.
Micaiah Brown, Stroudsburg, guard, Sr.
Brown will have an important role for Stroudsburg this year. The Mounties have a lot of size, but Brown will be an x-factor with his perimeter shooting. His coach said he's the best shooter on the team, and he'll have a chance to prove it this year.
Kamoni Smith-Johnson, Stroudsburg, gaurd, Sr.
It's not the just the big men that can dunk. Smith-Johnson is another player that can punch it for the Mounties, and he's also a strong point-of-attack defender. Stroudsburg isn't lacking for rim protection, but opponents will have to get past Smith-Johnson first.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: 21 boys' basketball players to watch in Monroe County
