Pre-Season Scouting Preview: Liberty North's Top Prospects

Liberty North is coming off a a run that led them to the Class 6 state championship game in 2021 and returns a lot of the players who led them to it as a relatively young team of mostly underclassmen. Here is a look at the top prospect who return for 2022.   [player_tooltip player_id='172304' first='Melvin' last='Laster'] | 2024 | 6'2" | LB |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Melvin-Laster.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427177"/></figure>   <ul><li>The big-time 240lb thumper in the middle, who won the Buck Buchanan Award as a sophomore, and already holds thirteen D1 offers returns to hold things down from his linebacker spot and make life difficult for opponents sideline-to-sideline and up the middle. Laster is the total package of being able to shut down the run, defend the pass, and get after the quarterback. He is the number one problem offensive coordinators have to worry about in their game plans.</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='172248' first='Sam' last='Van Dyne'] | 2023 | 6'3" | QB |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Sam-Van-Dyne.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427178"/></figure>   <ul><li>A talented left signal-caller who does a great job running the offense and leading his team. Good size at 6'3" who within himself and his offense who doesn't hurt his team trying to force things or make mistakes. Has a nice arm and puts the ball on the money. Makes good decisions, and is mobile enough to make plays with his feet when need. Sam already has a couple of D1 offers, with UAB being his most recent one he picked up last month. </li></ul>   Javon Smith | 2023 | 6'2" | DE |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3625-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427179"/></figure>   <ul><li>I wrote about Smith in the 2023 DLs ready to have a breakout season piece. It looks like Navy has recognized what I saw and has offered him. Smith is a massively strong, athletic edge with a lot of upside who is still developing as a player. He works hard in the weight room and has a great motor on the field. His best football is ahead of him as he sees that football is the sport that will take him the furthest on the next level. </li></ul>   Keeland Smith | 2024 | 6'3" | WR |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Keeland-Smith.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427180"/></figure>   <ul><li>A big target who showed the ability to stretch the field with his speed and ability to run after the catch. Smith had 16 catches for a 20 yards per catch average and 3 TDs. I expect those numbers to grow as he continues to develop his game and due to loss of some other top receivers from last year's team. Keeland runs good routes and does a nice job getting separation from defenders, and using his size to his advantage for position and to go u and get the ball. He has good hands and snatches the ball well in traffic.</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='103397' first='Jacob' last='Stockard'] | 2023 | 6'4" | DL |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Jacob-Stockard.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427181"/></figure>   <ul><li>You have another hard worker in the weight room and on the field for the Eagles along the defensive line. Good size and strength with an outstanding work ethic who battles to the whistle and finishes plays. I got to watch him at several camps over the summer and he confirmed that. Stockard has good size and could get bigger and play inside on the next level in my opinion, which would allow him to use his athleticism and quickness against interior OLs. Jacob was in on 44 tacks and had 3 sacks as a junior from his defensive end spot. </li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='185382' first='Manny' last='Conley'] | 2024 | 6'5" | OL |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Manny-Conley.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427182"/></figure>   <ul><li>First caught my attention at the KC Varsity Prep combine following his freshman year. Already a big kid at that time, Conley has grown a couple inches and is currently 285lbs heading into his junior season. He's had a very good off-season and has gotten the attention of several college programs following camp season. Manny is a good athlete with strength and good feet. He's still developing as a player, but 2022 could be a breakout season for him.</li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='130187' first='Darius' last='Pahmahmie'] | 2024 | 6'2" | NG/DT |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/IMG_3827.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427184"/></figure>   <ul><li>Darius really stepped up and filled the middle of the Eagles defensive line last season after showing flashes of what he was capable of as a freshman. Great size at 290lbs with good quickness and get off at the line. Does the heavy lifting and does a good job requiring the attention of several offensive linemen to allow his talented linebackers and safeties the opportunity to make plays. Still he had 26 tackles and two sacks. Look for his production to go up even more as a junior.</li></ul>   Micah Barnett | 2024 | 5'9" | RB |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Micah-Barnett.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427185"/></figure>   <ul><li>Quick and speedy running back who is physical and runs hard despite not possessing great size. Plays bigger then he is and not afraid to lower his pads and take on a tackler if he cannot run past or around them. He returns as the top rusher from last season after racking up 933 yards and 11 TDs on 152 carries. Barnett is also a nice receiving option and can make plays out of the backfield or in the slot. </li></ul>   [player_tooltip player_id='181739' first='Eric' last='Henkel'] | 2023 | 6'1" | S |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Eric-Henkel.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427187"/></figure>   <ul><li>A terrific safety prospect that has been under-recruited to this point in my opinion. Good size. Physical big hitter who plays well against both the run and the pass. He's a very good 195lb athlete with 4.6 forty speed, a 4.0 shuttle and 34" vertical. Eric had 66 tackles with a pick as a junior. He can definitely play on one of the next levels of college football. </li></ul>     [player_tooltip player_id='285221' first='Motie' last='Williams'] | 2025 | 6'3" | OL/DL |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Motie-Williams.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427188"/></figure>   <ul><li>A promising young linemen with good size and athleticism who saw some time with varsity as a freshman at DL. He is suppose to be a starter along the offensive line as a sophomore.</li></ul>   Ryan Hutson | 2025 | 6'0" | LB |   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Ryan-Hutson.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-427189"/></figure>   <ul><li>Hutson saw varsity action at linebacker position in the playoffs and did a nice job. He flew around the field and looked like a physical playmaker in the live game I saw him in. Runs well, liked to hit and looked like he had a good understanding of the defense.</li></ul>

Liberty North is coming off a a run that led them to the Class 6 state championship game in 2021 and returns a lot of the players who led them to it as a relatively young team of mostly underclassmen. Here is a look at the top prospect who return for 2022.