PREVIEW: Arkansas Valley-Chishom Trail Division 2

Eric Pannell

October 6, 2019 @ 09:10 PM

Photo Courtesy (Israel Potoczny, Prep Hoops) Prep Hoops Kansas takes a look at the upcoming season in the Arkansas Valley-Chisholm Trail Conference. Andover (11-10, 5-7) Key losses: Andrew Gagnon (6’0, G) The Trojans will have to replace the leadership and production of Andrew Gagnon, the team’s only senior and leading scorer. Gagnon averaged 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds last season and was among the league’s top outside shooters, knocking down 40 3-pointers. Enter 2021 Jack Johnson who took his game to new heights in the offseason and is poised to be one of the state’s top players in the rising junior class. Joining him in the backcourt will be 2021 guard Kaleb Gaddis, 2020 wing Harper Jonas and 2020 forward Isaiah Maikori. Andover Central (22-3, 11-1) Key losses: Easton Leedom (6’3, G), Braden Belt (6’0). Andover Central featured one of the state’s top backcourts last season with a variety ofl athletic guards, shooters, scorers and defenders. The Jaguars will have to replace a pair of its leading scorers in Easton Leedom (⅙, PPG)and Braden Belt (18.2 PPG), but return several other talented players, including Division I recruit Xavier Bell. Along with guard Shomari Parnell and do-everything senior Jerome Washington, Andover Central figures to compete for a league title once again. Arkansas City (14-7, 6-6) Key losses: Cevin Clark (5’11, G), A Wilson Arkansas City has one of the biggest shoes to fill not only in its own league but in the state as the will be without 2019 senior Cevin Clark. A talented shooter and all-around guard, Clark averaged 31.6 points per game last season. The Bulldogs will also be replacing Wilson who averaged 11 points and nearly six rebounds last season. However the cupboard isn’t entirely bare as the team returns Jamauri Jordan and others from a team that won 14 games and finished .500 in league play. Eisenhower (14-8, 8-4) Key losses: Josh Sliter (6’2, G), Patrick George (6’3, F). Eisenhower appears poised for a breakout season as the Tigers return nearly all of its varsity scoring from a team that went 8-4 in league play last season. They will be led by a terrific trio of versatile and skilled players in Jordan Vincent, Ethan Stewart and Nick Hogan. Goddard (3-19, 2-10) Key losses: Jared Mocaby (6’0. G) Goddard is coming off a tough season in 2018-19 and have graduated from that squad point guard Jared Mocaby, now playing at Bethel, guard Caywen Wetiba (5’9) and forward Derek Phillippe (6’2). The team will likely look to senior forwards Blake Mitchell and Cole Gordon among others. Maize South (16-6, 7-4) Key losses: Nolan Venis (6’4, F), Kael Kordonowy (6’6, F), Ethan Hartig (6’0, G), Kyle Blevin (6’2, G) Maize South loses one of the state’s top big men in 2019 Kael Kordonowy. A 6’6 jumping jack, Kordonowy averaged 18.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game. However, the Mavericks return several talented players, including guard Trey Reid and Tai Johnson among others. Valley Center (6-15, 2-10) Key losses: Trenton Driskill, 6’6, F), Myles Thompson (6’5, F), Wilson, Carter Valley Center is hoping to take a big step forward after going 2-10 in AVCTL play last season. The Hornets will have to replace 6’6 big man Trenton Driskill, who averaged a team-high 13.8 points, and 6’5 2021 Myles Thompson, who transferred to Buhler after averaging 12.5 points and 5.0 rebounds as a sophomore last season. The losses will be tough to overcome as Valley Center looks to several youngsters to take on big roles.