Filling the Void (1A and 2A)

<p>As summer action winds down, it’s not too early to look ahead to the roles guys are slated to play next high school season.</p> <p>Here are some voids left from graduation at 1A and 2A schools, and guys who may get called upon to fill them:</p> <p>Lebo (1A Div. 1):</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1072883" first="Devan" last="McEwen"] was a generational player at Lebo. He takes with him not just a ton of production, but leadership on the court and on the football field. It’s not fair to ask any one player to fill that void, but 5-foot-11 guard <strong>Landon Grimmett</strong> took on a big role as a sophomore last year. Like McEwen, Grimmett is a multi-sport athlete who had some big outings last year. He hits from deep and held up to the pressure of the playoffs. Grimmett earned honorable mention as a sophomore.</p> <p>Frankfort (1A Div. 1):</p> <p><strong>Samuel Gros</strong>, a 6-foot-4 forward, was really good last year, and is showing this summer he’s ready to have a big senior year. Frankfort loses a lot in honorable mention all stater [player_tooltip player_id="1134442" first="Gavin" last="Cornelison"] and all-league performer <strong>Aiden Gerstner</strong>, both guards. Gros may need to help more with ball handling duties, and he’s smooth and athletic enough to take on more. In the lane, he has a quick jumper and agility to knife to the goal. On defense, Gros is a quick leaper who blocks shots and gets his hands in the way of everything.</p> <p>Hoxie (2A):</p> <p>How do you possibly replace a 7-foot post? The short answer is, you don’t. No one can replace [player_tooltip player_id="946226" first="Harlan" last="Obioha"] (pictured), the enormous dual-sport all-state star. Making matters worse, Mid-Continent League honorable mention guard <strong>Gavin Tremblay</strong> also departs. The Indians will look to league honorable mention guard <strong>Ashton Dowell</strong>, a 6-foot rising senior to help take up that slack.</p> <p>Sacred Heart (2A):</p> <p>The Knights lose three North Central League-caliber seniors in <strong>Caleb Gilliland</strong>, <strong>Jacob Gormley</strong> and <strong>Mason Richards</strong>. They will lean heavily on 2023 forward, 6-foot-2 <strong>Alex Disberger</strong>. Disberger looked the part as a sophomore, earning 2A honorable mention as a double-double machine. He averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds as a sophomore and will take over a bigger role next year.</p> <p>West Elk (2A):</p> <p>Jumping jack [player_tooltip player_id="946221" first="Devin" last="Loudermilk"] is gone, off to compete in track at the University of Kansas. He was a unique athlete who averaged 20.5 points and 7 rebounds as a senior, and earned third-team 2A for his work. That kind of athlete is impossible to replace. But watch out for <strong>Wesley Young</strong>, a 6-foot-4 2022 standout in his own right. He earned honorable mention in 2A for scoring 12.5 points and grabbing 10.7 rebounds as a junior.</p>