Topeka Tandems to Watch

Turnover in Topeka will open the door for a lot new storylines next season. Some dynamic pairs will have an opportunity to change the landscape of hoops in the Capital City. Topeka Tandems to Watch (players are listed by their grade next school year): Topeka West’s Elijah Brooks, junior, and Trevion Alexander, senior: The top tandem in the city is without a doubt at Topeka West. These guards have the physical gifts to dominate their opponents, and the skills to take over a game. The 6-foot-2 versatile Brooks is strong and able to overpower nearly any guard around, and he’s too quick and athletic for most bigger players. Not only was he the top sophomore in the league last year, he was already a physical mismatch. He averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds en route to first team all-league honors. If he develops a more accurate outside touch, he’ll be unstoppable. Alexander tends to get second billing to Brooks. But the senior-to-be does a pretty good Ben Simmons imitation. Alexander passes well, makes plays for teammates, and is just too big for other guards to keep from getting to the rim. He might have the most dynamic overall game in the league: he is able to rebound the ball, dribble through traffic, and finish at the goal like a big. Alexander had four games of 20 or more points, and tallied 25 in the Chargers’ playoff win over Bonner Springs. Washburn Rural’s Josh Williams, senior, and [player_tooltip player_id="889486" first="Jack" last="Hutchinson"], senior: These guards are a complementary pair – a slick ballhandler and a lights-out shooter. They’ve been key to back-to-back runs at the state playoffs and probably will be again next season. Williams was the point guard for the Junior Blues as they asserted themselves as one of the top 6A teams in the state. He scored in double figures six times, distributed the ball, handled it under pressure, and was disruptive on defense. And yet it seemed he hadn’t fully tapped his potential. Even with the return of several other key components, watch for Williams to fully blossom as a senior. Hutchinson has developed a reputation as one of the best shooters around. He’s been known as a sharpshooter since his freshman year at Hayden. The 6-foot guard had five 3-pointers against Highland Park and four against Olathe North. The threat he posed from the perimeter helped [player_tooltip player_id="599759" first="Joe" last="Berry"] earn a share of the Centennial League Player of the Year. Topeka High’s Jalen Smith, senior, and Geivonnii Williams, senior: This pair will have to emerge from the considerable shadow of the departed senior class if they are to keep the Trojans at the top of the heap. No way the 6-foot-2 Smith can replace the departed Da’Vonshai Harden. Harden was a unique athlete with a wealth of experience. But Smith brings a different skill set and has played a key role as a starter who could occasionally take over a game. He had 18 points or more six times for the loaded Trojans. Now with Harden and [player_tooltip player_id="726594" first="King" last="Sutton"] gone, Smith may become option #1 next season. Williams is an interesting player. He can shoot from the perimeter, but his greatest value comes as a disruptive defender and gritty sparkplug. The 6-foot senior-to-be is a top-flight defensive back on the football field, and he can make life miserable for offensive players on the court too. He’s tough and heady. At 6-foot and 190, he has strength to dominate other guards and quickness to harass bigger players. Despite the presence of so many other stars, Williams scored in double figures five straight games midseason. With the loss of several seniors, Williams will probably need to become more of a go-to guy. Hayden’s Vicarrio Triplett, senior, and Trey Pivarnik, senior: After a tough season for the Wildcats, it will be up to these two returners to improve Hayden’s fortunes. As the season played out, Triplett became the Wildcats’ primary ball handler, reliable leader and an emerging scoring threat. He can slither through the lane, create in the open court, and hit from the perimeter. The 5-foot-11 rising senior can step forward as one of the best guards in the city and make a name for himself if he builds on his 11.3 point scoring average. The 6-foot-2 Pivarnik will need to assert himself more on the offensive end to give the Wildcats a presence in the lane. He’s as rugged as they come in the middle and athletic for a guy his size. He only scored in double-digits a couple of times and will need to provide more next season if the Wildcats are to improve. Seaman’s Micah Kobuszewski, senior, and Kaeden Bonner, sophomore: Perimeter options are abundant at Seaman, and this pair provides some elite perimeter shooting. The 6-foot Kobuszewski provided a steady hand in a turbulent season for the Vikings. His ability to hit from beyond the arc opened up the rest of his teammates, and he had several games with multiple 3-pointers. But he’s willing to mix it up in the lane, and brings versatility beyond just shooting. With several other young guard options, the Vikings found Bonner to be lightning in a bottle from the perimeter. During one six game stretch, he averaged 13.6 per game. The freshman had six games in double figures with a high of 21 against Emporia. Shawnee Heights’ Zander Putthoff, junior, and Carter Olson, junior: There were several older players taking most of the playing time on the Thunderbirds front line. But these two sophomores got valuable experience and will need to step forward next season. Putthoff played his sophomore season like a pure shooter. He had five 3-pointers against De Soto and three in a couple of other contests. But at 6-foot-4, there is a lot more in his body than a shooter. With seniors 6-foot-4 Nasire Anderson and 6-foot Marquis Barksdale as veterans in the lane, Putthoff didn’t exploit all his abilities. He will have the opportunity next year. With several seniors gone, Olson will have plenty of opportunities next year. But unlike Putthoff, Olson is more of a traditional post player. In his limited time, he proved he could rebound. He scored in double-figures twice and has the potential to do much more.