PREVIEW: Centennial League

Eric Pannell

October 21, 2019 @ 04:28 PM

Centennial Emporia (11-9, 6-7), Junction City (9-11, 4-9), Manhattan (8-14, 5-9), Topeka (18-3, 13-1), Topeka Hayden (9-12, 6-8), Topeka Highland Park (3-18,3-11), Topeka Seaman (14-8, 9-5), Topeka Washburn Rural (23-2, 13-1) Emporia (11-9, 6-7) Key Losses: Jace Stewart (6’2, G), Kyler McCullough (6’0, G) Emporia returns one of the state’s top all-around players in 2021 forward Charles Snyder, a talented inside-out performer who can post up, rebound, run the floor and shoot the 3. Mix in a strong group of returning seniors and solid role players and the Spartans appear poised to take a big step forward in 2019-20. Junction City (9-11, 4-9) Key Losses: AJ Dickerson (6’3, G), James Hall (6’2, F), Anthony Twiggs (5’11, G). Junction City losses a terrific all-around guard in AJ Dickerson, a talented player who could do a lot of different things, including rebound, defend and put the ball in the basket. Leading the way this season will be Qua’Vez Humphreys, an athletic player with good size and an all-around skill set. Manhattan (8-14, 5-9) Key Losses: Lawson Monaco (6’1, G) On paper, it appears Manhattan returns a team armed with the tools necessary to compete for a league title. The Indians have experience, good guards and some size with athletic players. The team returns nearly its entire roster from last season as well, including Mitch Munsen, Raeshon Riddick, Jake Cox, Chandler Marks and others. Topeka Hayden (9-12, 6-8) Key Losses: Levi Braun (6’3, G) Hayden losses one of the state’s top combo guards in Levi Braun, now playing at Washburn. A strong ball handler, outside shooter and all-around performer, Braun was a smooth shooting guard who could impact a game in a variety of ways. Leading the way this season will be a strong core of players who excelled during the summer and are poised for breakout years at the varsity level. Topeka Highland Park (3-18,3-11) Key Losses: NA The Scots have fallen on hard times but have a solid foundation of returning players in guard Jeremy Kendrick, inside-out wing CJ Powell and forward Kelvin Curry. Highland Park will be relying on those two for production this season and looking to several other players to take their games to new heights this season. Topeka Seaman (14-8, 9-5) Key Losses: Trey Duffey (6’6, F), Kobe Bonner (6’0, PG), Kobe Jordan (6’2, G/F), Kobe Hillebert (5’10, G) Seaman will be looking to replace one of the state’s top 1-2 punches in big man Trey Duffey and point guard Kobe Bonner, and an overall deep and talented senior class that went seven deep. Leading the way this season will be a trio of forwards and a talented sophomore class that could see plenty of run. Topeka (18-3, 13-1) Key Losses: Grant Cooney (6’6, F), Kee’andre Smith (6’2, G) One year after advancing all the way to the Kansas 6A state championships in Wichita, Topeka returns much of its roster, including a pair of talented football recruits in guard Ky Thomas and forward Davonshai Harden, Mix in King Sutton, one of the state’s top rising prospects in the senior class, and Carlos and Isiah Esquibel, a pair of talented wing players, and the Trojans appear to have all the tools for another big postseason run. Topeka Washburn Rural (23-2, 13-1) Key Losses: Jordan White (6’1, G), Savian Edwards (6’0,G), Armahn Downing (6’0,G) Few programs in the state lose more than Washburn Rural, who are coming off a run to the Kansas 6A state championships. They do return senior Drew Bortz and 2021 standout Joe Berry, 2021 guard Noah Krueger and will be mixing in a host of other youngster ready to make their mark.