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The season is over. The crowds have dispersed and the bright gym lights have been shut down for the summer. Spring tryouts are underway, and most athletes are either looking ahead to their next sport or taking some time off to recover.

But though the new season wont tip off for another eight and a half months, it wont be long before the young ballers return to the court,spending their offseason preparing for their opportunity to shine.

Some will work on their jumper, others their handle, more their speed and strength, and many all of the above. A few are already stars looking to take their game to the next level, but most werent their teams focal point, and with some newly opened holes created by graduated seniors, are looking to seize their opportunity.

Whos got next? The answer depends entirely on the work that will be done in the months to come, but as we turn the page on the 2016-17 basketball season, heres a look ahead to some of the players who could make their mark next winter.

KINGS OF THE COURT

Lawrences Juan Felix Rodriguez and Central Catholics Colin Bradanese firmly established themselves as two of the areas top players this past season. Rodriguez, the Eagle-Tribune MVP, was an elite offensive presence and a threat to score from virtually anywhere on the court. Bradanese, an Eagle-Tribune Super Teamer, was a surgeon in the paint, seemingly always able to find just the right angle to beat his defenders to the basket.

Barring injury or transfers, Rodriguez and Bradanese,along with Lowells Alex Rivera, figure to be the early favorites for MVC Player of the Year next season.

Rodriguez (689 points) and Bradanese (620) could both join the 1,000-point club.

One other player who could also reach 1,000 career points? Brooks Pat Freiermuth.

TheMerrimac resident, who is committed to play football at Penn State, has long been one of the areas most dominant basketball players, but injuries and other factors havesuppressedhis career numbers, which in an ideal world would otherwise be astronomical.

Freiermuth goes into his fifth and final year of high school with 835 career points. He was limited to just seven games as a freshman at Pentucket before exploding onto the scene as a sophomore, scoring 21.9 points per game while leading the Sachems to the Division 3 state semifinal.

After that season, Freiermuth transferred to Brooks and repeated his sophomore year. Though his numbers havent been what they were at Pentucket, hes still been a beast. He earned Eagle-Tribune Super Team honors for the second time last year, and he may have been an Eagle-Tribune All-Star this year if not for the lingering injuries from football that limited him for most of the season.

Its easy to imagine a what-if scenario where Freiermuth is going for 2,000 career points next season instead of 1,000, but no one can dispute his talent and ability, even if his future lies on the gridiron and not the hardwood.Aslong as he doesnt sit out next year to focus on football or lifting weights, Freiermuth could be one of the areas best players once again nextseason.

THE NEXT GREATS

One player whose future certainly lies of the hardwood is Phillips Academys Dallion Johnson. The Haverhill resident, who averaged 12.1 points per game and made 49 3-pointers as a freshman, was already one of the top players in New England Preps Class A this winter. He also became just the 10th freshman to be selected in the 47-year history of the Eagle-Tribune All-Star team.

But Johnson is only scratching the surface of his potential. For most of his life Johnson has played up against and dominated much older competition.

Though hes not an elite prospect to the same extent that Johnson is, Pelham freshman Drew Brown also could be on the cusp of greatness.

Browns brother, Keith, of course, was Eagle-Tribune MVP for Pelham High.

The older Brown was a two-time Division 3 state champion who scored1,975 points in his career and averaged 28.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game as a senior. Needless to say, it might be a little much to ask for that from the younger brother.

Yet Drew Brown did enjoy a terrific freshman season,averaging 12.2 points while ranking among the areas best shooters with 56 threes on the season. With 280 points in Year One, Brown is already on track to one day reach 1,000 career points, and with another year of improvement could make strides to becoming one of the areas best players.

LANCERS POISED FOR BIG SEASON

Its hard not to get excited for Lawrence next year. Besides Eagle-Tribune MVP Juan Felix Rodriguez, Lawrence was also loaded with talented returnees, including starters Cristian Kinsley, a sharpshooting junior, and sophomore Luis Reynoso, an uber-talented combo guard.

Juniors Miguel Camacho and Sebastian Dilone, sophomores Jaden Castillo, Angel Vazquez and Brian Martir, and freshman Jhamyl Fricas were all sparks off the bench.

If Lawrence brings everybody back and adds a handful of new youngsters which the city has no shortage of the Lancers could have something special brewing.

Central Catholic and Methuen likely arent going anywhere either, despite the graduation of several Eagle-Tribune All-Stars.

In addition to Bradanese, the Raiders return starters Dom Keegan and Bret Edwards. Sophomore Kevin Constant and freshman George Smith will likely see bigger roles in their second varsity seasons.

Methuen, meanwhile, will once again have sharpshooting juniors Evan Hardy and Dante Rivera to lead the way, and also expect freshman Uriel Cirineo to make a big jump. The talented freshman started most of this past season, and he has the physical tools to be a star.

Another freshman to watch with Methuen is Christian Ovalles. The 6-foot point guard played limited varsity minutes this season, but coaches around the region have been raving about him for some time. With another year to grow and mature, he could become a breakout player.

Andover will be hit hard by graduation, but the Golden Warriors are never short on talent. Starting guard Cedric Gillette will be back as team captain, as will sophomore Emmett Kim. Those two and talented freshman Kyle Rocker should step into the lineup next year.

Haverhill graduates almost the entire team. Coach Souleymane Wane will have his work cut out for him in Year 2.

Only three varsity players return, the most noteworthy being junior Thomas Vaillancourt, who averaged 4.0 points a game off the bench.

As for the MVC Small, North Andover should be favored to repeat. Sophomore Jake McElroy lived up to his high billing in his first season since transferring from Brooks, averaging 14.2 points with 49 3-pointers while earning Eagle-Tribune All-Star honors. He should compete with Billerica freshman Ryan Murphy for MVC Small MVP.

The Knights also return sophomore Darren Watson and juniors Chim Ogwuru and Ben OConnell.

SON OF PATS LANE LIFTING GEORGETOWN

The last few years havent been particularly kind to Georgetown. Since going 16-6 overall in 2013-14, the Royals went 3-37 over the following two years, including a winless campaign in 2014-15. But this past year the Royals were a respectable 6-14. Next year the Royals could be a state tourney team.

The Royals have 6-foot-4 sophomore Hunter Lane, the son of former Patriots offensive lineman Max Lane (14.7 ppg), who could be one of the CALs best.

Joining him are juniorsColin Dow, who averaged 10.4 points,andEvan Guyer.

Pentucket returns junior Nate McGrail (12.3 ppg) and sophomores Spencer Pacy (10.6 ppg) and Gus Flaherty(10.4 ppg).

North Reading graduates its entire starting lineup, but sophomore Matt Solecki is a player to watch.

In the Commonwealth Athletic Conference, Whittiers Anthony Buckley made the jump from a solid player as a sophomore to an absolute monster as a junior. The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 16.2 points (including a 29-point game against Greater Lawrence) and has 665 career points.

Joined by fellow starter Demario Scarpegnato and reserves Kevin Bradley Jr., Kevin Schrow and Michael Santos, Whittier should remain a potential state tournament team.

Greater Lawrences top returnee is sophomore Oscar Lopez (15.0 ppg), and juniors Kevin Ortiz, Kevin Tatis and Anthony Reyes showed promise.

Presentation of Mary returns junior Ronnie St. Peter (12.1 ppg).

SOPHOMORES LEAD ASTRO REBUILD

Pinkerton missed the state tourney on a tiebreaker but the Astros do return talented sophomores Jay Reynolds and Joey Merrill (11.7 ppg, 4 20-point games late in season).

Eagle-Tribune All-Star Reynolds (16.9 ppg) was a star after transferring in from Exeter High.

The Astros also return starting center Matthew Fabrizio and sophomore Ryan Auger, an elite lacrosse player with the type of athleticism that could translate well.

Elsewhere in New Hampshire...

Division 1: Londonderry cant replace Eagle-Tribune Super Teamer Jake Coleman, but sophomore Ethan Garofalo made a big jump this year and could be the go-to guy. Proven juniors Cole Britting and Dakota Bertrand also return.

For Salem, freshman Trevor DeMinicoand junior Matt Soldano should be the main offensive threats next year, with Griffin Curtis (19.5 ppg) and D.J. Coletti (10.8 ppg) lost to graduation.

Division 2: Timberlane finished with a winning record for the first time in 17 years and return a lot led by juniors Connor Schott, Bob Horgan and Matt Perry.

In addition to Drew Brown, Pelham returns sophomore Blake Woekel (9.2 ppg).

Windham is coming off a tough season, but returns capable juniors Eric Thibodeau and Thomas Splagounias should be the teams top scoring options.

Division 3: Sophomore Austin Kalinowski was Sanborns top scorer. Fellow sophomore Matt Sarette also returns.

TOP RETURNING SCORERS

Player School Games Points PPG

Juan Felix Rodriguez Lawrence 22 439 20.0

Jay Reynolds Pinkerton 21 354 16.9

Anthony Buckley Whittier 23 372 16.2

Oscar Lopez Gr. Lawrence 22 330 15.0

Colin Bradanese Central 24 358 14.9

Hunter Lane Georgetown 18 264 14.7

Ronnie Silva Bradford Christian 22 317 14.4

Jake McElroy No. Andover 21 298 14.2

Nate McGrail Pentucket 21 258 12.3

Luis Reynoso Lawrence 11 135 12.3

Drew Brown Pelham 23 280 12.2

Ronnie St. Peter PMA 14 170 12.1

Dallion Johnson Phillips 18 217 12.1

Joseph Merrill Pinkerton 18 211 11.7

Spencer Pacy Pentucket 21 223 10.6

Dom Keegan Central 17 179 10.5

Gus Flaherty Pentucket 21 218 10.4

Colin Dow Georgetown 20 207 10.4

Dante Rivera Methuen 18 178 9.9

Ethan Garofalo Londonderry 22 211 9.6

Blake Woekel Pelham 23 212 9.2

Austin Kalinowski Sanborn 21 193 9.2

Evan Hardy Methuen 21 189 9.0

Connor Schott Timberlane 22 190 8.6

Demario Scarpegnato Whittier 22 182 8.3

Kevin Ortiz Gr. Lawrence 21 175 8.3

Bob Horgan Timberlane 22 169 7.7

Evan Guyer Georgetown 14 107 7.6

Cristian Kinsley Lawrence 22 158 7.2

Matt Perry Timberlane 22 155 7.0

MOST CAREER POINTS

Name School Year Points

Pat Freiermuth Brooks Jr. 835

Juan Felix Rodriguez Lawrence Jr. 689

Anthony Buckley Whittier Jr. 665

Colin Bradanese Central Jr. 620

Ronnie St. Peter PMA Jr. 513

Nate McGrail Pentucket Jr. 484

Evan Hardy Methuen Jr. 443

Colin Dow Georgetown Jr. 429

Dante Rivera Methuen Jr. 408

Hunter Lane Georgetown Soph. 396

Jay Reynolds Pinkerton Soph. 354

Darren Watson No. Andover Soph. 338

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WHO'S GOT NEXT: A look ahead at the stars and up and comers who will take center stage next season - Eagle-Tribune