Graduation wasn’t exactly kind to the boys basketball teams in the Local.News1 coverage area, but even as some of the biggest stars have moved on to bigger and better things, local squads still return enough talent to make an impact this season.
Waynesboro lost a pair of Mid-Penn Colonial Division All-Stars to graduation, but the team is confident it can make a run for the District 3-6A playoffs with a group led by the return of leading scorer Rayshawn Frazier-Hewitt.
Similar sentiments can be felt in the camps at Greencastle-Antrim and Chambersburg. The Blue Devils graduated one of the area’s top scorers and rebounders in Carter McCauley, but also return their leading scorer and sharpshooter in Alex Albright. JJ Kelly, a man who averaged more than 20 points per game, has graduated from the Trojans program, but Chambersburg has a solid returning group that will be aiming to compete at a high level in both league and postseason play.
In Maryland, heavy graduation losses were sustained by all three of our area teams — North Hagerstown, South Hagerstown, and Smithsburg — but there are plenty of reasons to believe those squads can be competitive.
We’ll take a closer look at all of these teams, as well as as the Fairfield Knights, in our boys basketball previews.
Stay with Local.News1 in the days to come as we continue to preview the winter sports season.
Below are team-by-team previews for the seven boys basketball teams in the Local.News1 coverage area:
Waynesboro Tribe
Coach: Tom Hoffman
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 13-8, 11-3 division (2nd place)
Top projected returners: Rayshawn Frazier-Hewitt (Sr., G), Nate Nystrom (Sr., 6-4, F), Carter Hough (Jr., G), Dominic Goodworth (Sr., G), Ryan Jenkins (Sr., PF), Christian Munday (Sr.), Riley Eaton (Sr.)
Meet the Tribe: Waynesboro turned on the heat late last season with seven wins over the last eight games, but the Tribe missed the District 3-6A Tournament despite having a winning record and posting a runner-up finish in the Colonial Division … The Tribe will be aiming to get off to a faster start this season, but will have to do it without the services of graduated Alex Torbica and Farin Parks, two players who garnered Third Team All-Colonial honors … The good news for Waynesboro is the team returns its Top 3 scorers, including senior guard Rayshawn Frazier-Hewitt, who posted a double-digit scoring average last season … Frazier-Hewitt, who just finished competing the starting QB on the football team, will be flanked by guard Carter Hough and 6-foot-4 forward Nate Nystrom … The challenge for coach Tom Hoffman will be piecing together the rest of the starting lineup, as Waynesboro graduated three other crucial role-players in addition to Parks and Torbica … Seniors Dominic Goodworth and Ryan Jenkins could be part of the solution, as they both return a fair amount of varsity experience … Waynesboro last qualified for the district playoffs in the 2022-23 season, when the No. 5-seeded Tribe surged to a fourth-place finish and a berth in the PIAA tourney.
Opener: Wednesday, Dec. 3, at New Oxford
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Todd Stephens
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 8-14, 5-8 division (5th place)
Top projected returners: Alex Albright (Sr., 6-1, G), Landen Swain (Jr.), Noah Parks (Sr.), Camden Eby (Jr.), Avery Horst (Sr.), Amani Mwaipaja (Sr.), Ryan Schick (So., 6-2), Jex McDowell (So., 5-8), Wyatt Hull (Jr., 6-3), Elijah Ambrose (Jr., 6-0), Jaxson Bostick (Jr.), Dez Holman (Fr.)
Meet the Blue Devils: After finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2021-22, Greencastle-Antrim is ready to return to its winning ways this winter … The Blue Devils bring back their leading scorer in Alex Albright, a 6-foot-1 guard who averaged 13.3 points per game last season and also led Greencastle in 3-pointers with 27. Albright was a Colonial Division Third Team selection … Landen Swain (7.5 ppg, 22 3-pointers) and Noah Parks (6.7 ppg, 13 3-pointers) are two other returning sharpshooters for the Blue Devils … Camden Eby (3.1 ppg, 8 3-pointers), Avery Horst (2.7 ppg), and Amani Mwaipaja (2.4 ppg) all have varsity experience and are projected to return … The Blue Devils have some big shoes to fill left by the graduated Carter McCauley, a Colonial Second Teamer who averaged 12.8 ppg last season … Greencastle also graduated a number of other role players in Kolten Johnson (3.3 ppg), Evan Hill (2.4 ppg), and Isaiah N’diaye (1.3 ppg) … The Blue Devils warmed up for their season by scrimmaging North Hagerstown and coming away with a 50-46 victory.
Opener: Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Mechanicsburg
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Shawn Shreffler
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth
Last season: 17-4, 11-3 division (3rd place)
Top projected returners: Landon Buhrman (Sr.), Colton Cornwell (Sr., 6-4, G), Josh Rudy (Sr., 6-1, G), Ayden Sylvestre (So., 5-11, G), Paulo Ayibotele (Sr., 6-1, G), Aedan Walker (Sr., 5-9, G), Jarrett Gipe (Jr., G), Cooper Stockslager (Sr., 6-2, F), Grayson Kegerreis (Sr., 6-1, G), Ryan Duhaney (So., G), Malachi Duhaney (So., 6-6, F), Brady Truett (Jr., F)
Meet the Trojans: Few programs in District 3 have had more success in their history than Chambersburg, which has captured eight championships, most recently in 2011-12, and has claimed nine runner-up finishes … The Trojans last made it to the title game in 2023-24 behind the strong play of JJ Kelly, who once again guided Chambersburg to a deep playoff run last winter that concluded with a trip to the PIAA Tournament … If the Trojans hope to repeat that success this season, they’ll have to do it without the graduated Kelly, a First Team Commonwealth Division selection who averaged 22.3 points per game and buried 24 3-pointers … With Kelly now playing for Ohio University, the Trojans will turn to a pair of Commonwealth Third Teamers — Landon Buhrman and Colton Cornwell — to guide the ship … Burhman averaged 12.3 points per game last fall, while Cornwell sank 51 3-pointers and averaged 10.8 ppg … Chambersburg returns several others with varsity experience, including Josh Rudy (2.9 ppg), Ayden Sylvestre (1.7 ppg), Paulo Ayibotele (1.7 ppg), Aedan Walker (0.5 ppg), Jarrett Gipe (0.5 ppg), and Cooper Stockslager (0.4 ppg) … The Trojans will be counting on these players to replace a graduated group of role players in Eli McDonald (4.1 ppg), Stanley Lozius (3.5 ppg), Ben Etter (1.1 ppg), and Tyrell Hawkins (1.1 ppg).
Opener: Friday, Dec. 5, at York Suburban Tip-Off Tournament
Fairfield Knights
Coach: Andy Winebrenner
Division: YAIAA III
Last season: 4-18, 0-14 division (8th place)
Top projected returners: Gabe Williams (Sr., 5-8), Michael Fisher (Sr., 6-1), Jacob Liller (Sr.), Ethan Taylor (Sr., 6-0), Riley Brown (Jr.), Matthew Fisher (So.), Aden Frank (So.), Trent Sewell (So., 5-7), Eddie Eichenlaub (Sr., 5-7), Aidan Cromer (Sr.)
Meet the Knights: It was a tough 2024-25 campaign for Fairfield, but there’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic as the Knights return a wealth of talent and will be gunning for their first winning season since 2021-22 … Fairfield’s top returner is Gabe Williams, a YAIAA Second Team selection who led his team in both scoring (14.9 points per game) and 3-pointers (49) … Williams will be supported by a group that includes Michael Fisher (4.5 ppg), Jacob Liller (4.4 ppg), Ethan Taylor (3.6 ppg), Riley Brown (3.3 ppg), and Matthew Fisher (1.5 ppg) … The Knights will have to replace their second-leading scorer in the graduated Jayden Bell (9.2 ppg, 32 3-pointers).
Opener: Wednesday, Dec. 3, at home vs. Fannett-Metal
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Kevin Naylor
Classification: Class 3A West Region I
Last season: 18-8
Top projected returners: Brayden Cespedes (Jr., 5-9, G), Joey Dorsey (Sr., 6-3, G), Ty Fauntleroy (Sr., 5-10, G), Ja’ron Nicholson (So., 6-0, G), James Jackson (Sr., 5-10, G), Michael Bell (Jr., 6-5, F)
Meet the Hubs: Expect a lot of new faces in the lineup for North Hagerstown, which graduated eight seniors, including leading scorer Landon Somerville, who averaged 15.9 points per game … The loss of Somerville — who also averaged 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 steals, and 2.4 assists per game — was the biggest, but the Hubs have plenty of other shoes to fill with the graduation of Braeden Griffin (6.0 ppg), Khalil Peggues (4.4 ppg), Sawyer Radtke (4.1 ppg), Darion Weeden (4.1 ppg), Bryce McCurdy (3.4 ppg), Reece Strickland (1.6 ppg), and Omar Drammeh (1.2 ppg) … Fueled by Somerville and Co., North Hagerstown captured the CMC Large School championship and won the Class 3A West Region I title, before eventually falling in the state quarterfinals with a 64-50 loss to Baltimore City College … Thanks to last year’s success, the Hubs will have a huge target on their back this season, but it’s a challenge that returning standouts Joey Dorsey and Brayden Cespedes are eager to take on … Dorsey, a 6-foot-3 guard, recorded 14.7 points per game last season, while also averaging 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals … Cespedes, a 5-foot-9 guard, averaged 10.8 points per game, to go along with 3.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals … Dorsey and Cespedes will provide the star power for North Hagerstown, but they will need support from a group of returners that includes Michael Bell (3.0 ppg), Ja’ron Nicholson (2.5 ppg), Ty Fauntleroy (2.5 ppg), and James Jackson (1.7 ppg).
Opener: Saturday, Dec. 6, at Williamsport
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Shane Santell
Classification: Class 4A West Region I
Last season: 6-17
Top projected returners: Avery Cosley (Jr.), Torin Sitter (Jr.), Jayson Contreras (So.), Leo Sklencar (So.), DJ Wade (Jr.)
Meet the Rebels: The season promises to be more of a challenge for South Hagerstown, which bumps up from Class 3A to 4A … The Rebels will be gunning to build off last winter’s six-win season, which concluded with a 67-50 loss to Liberty in the 3A West Region I Quarterfinals … Look for South Hagerstown’s top returner, junior Avery Cosley, to take a leadership role this winter … The Rebels are projected to return four others, including Torin Sitter, Jayson Contreras, Leo Sklencar, and DJ Wade … South Hagerstown will be operating without the services of Durrell Thomas Jr. and Abou Haidara, two players who have graduated.
Opener: Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Middletown
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Eric Gerber
Classification: Class 1A West Region II
Last season: 8-13
Top projected returners: Camden Zeigler (Sr., F), Jaxon Teson (Jr., G), Marquis Weakfall (Jr., G), Gavin Blumenauer (Jr., G), James Hare (So., F), Grady Schleupner (Sr., 6-6, F), Heath Githens (Sr., G), Amaray Summers (Sr., F)
Meet the Leopards: Smithsburg has some work to do after graduating six players — including All-CMC First Teamer Josh Summers — from a team that advanced to the Class 1A West Region Semifinals last winter … Summers, a 6-foot-6 forward now playing for Hagerstown Community College, recorded 18.4 points per game last season, and also averaged 10.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists … The Leopards graduated five others in Ayden Weakfall, Kyle Simms, Carter Nesbitt, Tyler Ward, and Alex Wagner … Coach Eric Gerber, who nailed down his 200th career victory last winter, will be looking to guide a team that is expected to return six players from last year’s roster, including 6-foot-6 forward Grady Schleupner.
Opener: Monday, Dec. 8, at home vs. North Hagerstown
