Plato has a new head coach in Michael Phillips this season. Phillips is a 1991 graduate of Plato. He will lean on one of the area’s top post players in junior Grady Todd.
Todd averaged 20.8 points and 8.9 rebounds as a sophomore. His offseason was hindered after a he broke a bone in his leg in a four-wheeler accident right before school started.
“I hope by the end of the year, he will feel comfortable and be able to show his game even more this year,” Phillips said. “We will definitely lean on him around the rim, offensively and defensively.”
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Caeden Hathaway and Clay Atterberry give Phillips two strong seniors to lean on this season. Hathaway scored 6.8 points and had 3.8 rebounds per game last season. Atterberry chipped in 4.4 points per game. Fellow senior Matthew Daniels will also return.
This group will have to help take pressure off Todd in the post.
“Grady will probably see most of the defensive schemes this year, so we will need our guards to be able to spread the floor and hit the post as much as possible,” Phillips said.
Senior Jack Morrison, junior AJ Rodts and freshman Levi Johnson will be some newcomers to watch.
“Our uniqueness will be our biggest asset. We have a great post player and some really quick guards who are all around 6-foot,” Phillips said.
Plato opens the season on Nov. 17 against Fatima at Jefferson City.
