It’s basketball season on the MS Coast. These are the top 10 boys to watch on the hardwood

High school basketball is underway on the Mississippi Coast.

The new year promises to be an exciting one with a range of athletes poised to break out as the next crop of stars from the region. Around two players returning from the Sun Herald Starting Five are a bevy of names looking to elevate their teams make a run in the playoffs.

The top girls basketball players to watch can be found at SunHerald.com.

Here are the top names to catch on the hardwood around the Coast this season:

• Quey’Sean Taylor, Pascagoula: Taylor enjoyed a breakout season at Moss Point last season and earned a spot on the Sun Herald Starting Five. He’s joined forces with Panther coach Lorenzo Wright to form a Final Four worthy trio in Pascagoula.

• Blake Nettles, Pascagoula: Nettles is a downhill point guard who emerged last season as one of the better two-way ball-handlers on the Coast, averaging 7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

• Kelan Rich, Pascagoula: The two-guard was a Mississippi Association of Coaches All Star select last season after averaging 12 points and 3.5 assists per game.

• Maddox Noblitt, Ocean Springs: Noblitt is coming off a strong season that saw him earn a MAC All Star selection and a spot on the SH Starting Five after averaging 17 points a game.

• Shaun Murray, Harrison Central: Murray has grown each season as a multi-dimensional scorer and will be taking on his biggest role yet coming off a MAC All Star campaign where registered 11 points and four rebounds per game.

• Alejandro Montalvo, Biloxi: Montalvo hit the scene at Moss Point last year and has taken his talents to Biloxi where he is averaging 14.8 points a game through the Indians first four games.

• Juan Santiago, D’Iberville: The senior guard became a scoring threat for the Warriors last season, putting up 15 points a game and shooting 40 percent from three.

• Jaylen Johnson, D’Iberville: The combo guard is poised for a big year following an impressive summer with Community Saved and could be one of the top two-way initiators on the Coast this season.

• Landon Hall, Pass Christian: Hall is one of the Coast’s top breakout candidates after a big summer and key graduations pushing the 6-foot-5 guard into a primary scoring role.

• Jonathan Jackson, Pass Christian: The former Christian Collegiate standout debuted at Pass Christian last season as an elite rim protector. The 7-footer looks to expand his game in his senior year.