PLAYERS TO WATCH

Gabe Nelson, Firth
Darrell Vasquez, Firth
Jacob Hill, North Fremont
Jed Hill, North Fremont
Rhett Barber, Ririe
Owen Moss, Ririe
Britton Hansen, Salmon
Broc Matthews, Salmon
Cooper Hall, West Jefferson
Jaren Rojas, West Jefferson

Written by: Brandon Baney

The 2023-24 race to the top of the Nuclear Conference should be clear as mud. Last year’s standings featured parity amongst the top four of Ririe, West Jefferson, Firth and North Fremont, and this year promises to be just as wide open.

In fact, when IdahoSports.com conducted its preseason coaches poll for the Nuke, Firth barely eked out the others for the top spot. The Cougars were followed by a two-way tie for second between North Fremont and Ririe, and a tie for fourth place between Salmon and West Jefferson.

The reason optimism is so high for everyone is that every single team returns at least one impact player from a year ago, if not more. Sure, there were talented players who departed, but it’s readily apparent to everyone who follows this league closely: there are no easy nights in the Nuke.

Firth went 14-9 a season ago, and finished a game shy of the 2A State Tournament after a 56-52 loss to North Fremont in the District 6 third-place game. Veteran coach Scott Adams is one of the best in the business, and has a nice inside-outside game with the Cougars this year.

Senior big man Gabe Nelson is a tough matchup on both ends of the floor, and guards like Darrell Vasquez and Levi Robbins will be tasked with getting him the ball. Vasquez, Robbins and Michael Adams are all great at attacking the basket as well, and any team coached by Scott Adams will defend their tails off, also.

Ririe went 21-6 last year, won the District 6 title over North Fremont, and dropped a 44-41 nail-biter to St. Maries in their state tourney opener on their way to a 1-2 finish. Among Nuclear Conference teams, the Bulldogs suffered the most significant graduation losses, but the cupboard isn’t totally bare.

“We lost seven seniors from last year’s team and each of them were a huge part of the team,” says Ririe coach Jordan Hamilton. “This year’s team is young. There are only two seniors on this team and they are the only ones with any significant varsity experience. There are a handful of juniors and sophomores who will all be getting varsity minutes.”

Returning seniors Rhett Barber and Aaron Martinez will help fill the void at shooting guard and center, respectively. “Rhett will be tough to guard from the perimeter to the key. He is a special offensive player who we expect great things from,” says Hamilton. “Aaron has a motor and a no-quit attitude. His physicality will be a huge part of our game this year.”

That physicality is something that coach Hamilton has really honed in on. “We are focusing on writing our own story and not living on what other Ririe teams have done in the past,” he says. “We want to have a more physical team but still with the Ririe brand of good shooting and good offense. We hope to much more physical this year, though. These kids are young as a group but they work hard in the weight room and play with a lot of energy.”

Despite struggling through an 11-13 season a year ago, North Fremont flipped the switch at the right time, defeating Firth at districts to earn their spot at state. Post Hank Richardson and slasher Dax Cherry will both be missed, but the Huskies return the most talent of any team in the league.

“North Fremont will surprise teams this year,” says Ririe coach Jordan Hamilton. “They have a style of basketball that is methodical and disciplined. I think even with the implementation of the shot clock, they’ll find a way to keep that disciplined ball at a bit of a higher pace that teams will not expect.”

Salmon coach Eric Platz agrees: “It’s a tough call to predict who will surprise in our league. I think everyone has a shot this year, but I feel North Fremont will be very good this year. They always play very disciplined basketball.”

The Huskies return a trio of talented guards to help lead the way; twin brother Jacob and Jed Hill (the sons of head coach Shannon Hill), as well as Carson Bohn.

West Jefferson took the Nuke by storm a year ago, finishing 15-9 overall, and 5-3 in the league, good enough for a second-place tie in the regular season standings. Head coach Kelvin Krosch will have to figure out how to replace the scoring of departed senior Blake Briggs, who averaged a double-double a season ago.

The answer may lie in West J’s strength by numbers approach. Several players could increase their production by a modest amount, and easily replace what they lost. “West J will have their fast-pace brand of basketball that can challenge any team,” says Ririe coach Jordan Hamilton. “Jaren Rojan and Cooper Hall will be tough, and Tate Simmons shot the ball well in the summer, so they have multiple threats.”

Salmon finished 2-19 a season ago, and watched starting point guard and leading scorer Hesston Hoggan depart via graduation. But second-leading scorer, sophomore Broc Matthews, is back, and is expected to slide into the vacated point guard role. Junior Britton Hanson will play inside, while junior Travis Crofoot and sophomore Clayton Allen will play on the wings.

“I’m excited to see the continued improvement from last year,” says Salmon coach Eric Platz. “We will be a very young team but we have a team full of good basketball players who can shoot. So far the energy in practice this year has been a huge difference from last year. Our players are locked in.”

Coach Platz is hoping to utilize Salmon’s speed and quickness on offense, and their physicality and toughness on defense. “Folks will see a whole new defensive scheme this year from Salmon,” he added.