North-Central Kansas League Spring Wrap
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This small league of just six schools had a surprising wealth of seniors last year. Several of the clubs lose nearly all their top players this off-season, creating a ton of opportunity this summer for development of guys who didn’t…
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Continue ReadingThis small league of just six schools had a surprising wealth of seniors last year. Several of the clubs lose nearly all their top players this off-season, creating a ton of opportunity this summer for development of guys who didn’t get a ton of varsity action.
Here’s a look back, and a look forward, for the North-Central Kansas League:
Top Team: Marysville
Although Abilene qualified for state, they did so with a 13-5 record, where they lost to McPherson. Marysville did not reach state. They lost in the sub-state finals to a really good Royal Valley team. But the Bulldogs went 18-4, loaded with high-quality seniors.
League Player of the Year: Kaleb Becker Kaleb Becker 6'4" | SF Abilene | 2022 State KS , junior, Abilene
The 6-foot-4 Becker is a versatile and athletic beast who averaged 16.6 points and 6.9 rebounds against really good competition. He edges out Tanner Hecht Tanner Hecht 6'5" | CG Wamego | 2021 State KS for player of the year based on his consistency and how far his team went in the playoffs.
Senior Star: Tanner Hecht Tanner Hecht 6'5" | CG Wamego | 2021 State KS , senior, Wamego
Hecht is a 6-foot-5 wing who can jump out of the gym and shoot from anywhere. He averaged 19.4 points and 8.3 rebounds. He has an elite skill set and showed it off with some really high quality clubs last summer.
Other Top Grads (in alphabetical order):
Avery Bryson Avery Bryson 6'2" | SF Abilene | 2021 State KS , Abilene
Ben Kirkland, Marysville
Isaac Lee, Clay Center
Gavin Pieschl, Marysville
Jackson Rader, Marysville
Wyatt Trost, Concordia
Top Returner: Becker
Other Top Returners (in alphabetical order):
Trey Adams Trey Adams 6'7" | PF Hays | 2021 State KS , junior, Chapman
Cav Carlgren, junior, Concordia
Mark Hoffman, junior, Clay Center
Camden Liebau, junior, Chapman
Burk Springer, junior, Wamego
Players to Watch this Summer (in alphabetical order):
Jake Fritz Jake Fritz 6'2" | SG Wamego | 2022 State KS , junior, Wamego (pictured):
Fritz was second fiddle to Hecht, but by season’s end, Fritz was turning in some huge efforts to keep the Red Raiders rolling. Down the stretch he had 24 against Chapman, 18 against Council Grove, and 25 (including five 3-pointers) against Hayden in sub-state. He averaged 11.6. But with Hecht gone, Fritz can use the summer to prepare to be the top perimeter gun for Wamego next season.
Tyler Hobrock, junior, Concordia:
On a team so full of quality seniors, Hobrock didn’t have to produce a ton offensively. He did put up a few double-digit outings, but the 6-foot-4 forward really excelled on the glass. He pulled down 7.0 rebounds a contest. Now with big man Chase Parker graduated, there will be a lot more opportunity for Hobrock to show what he can do. Summer will help him prepare for that opportunity.