Filling the Void (5A and 6A)

<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 4A schools, and guys who may get called upon to fill them:</p> <p>Blue Valley North (6A):</p> <p>Well, there will be no replacing the seniors who graduated from the state champion. [player_tooltip player_id="962473" first="Andrew" last="Orr"], [player_tooltip player_id="889487" first="Isaac" last="Patterson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="747099" first="Nikko" last="Taylor"] were each all-state type of star players. Add in steady veteran [player_tooltip player_id="889473" first="Luke" last="Adams"], and you had a super group in the class of 2021. There will be a huge void left, which rising senior [player_tooltip player_id="1131273" first="Kernan" last="Bundy"] can’t possibly fill by himself. But he’s a great place to start. The standout at both ends of the floor produced 12 points in both the state semi-final and final contests.</p> <p>Campus (6A):</p> <p>The losers in the state final against Blue Valley North will have an equally hard time filling the varsity void. You don’t just call up the next [player_tooltip player_id="730616" first="Sterling" last="Chapman"] or [player_tooltip player_id="824114" first="Stevie" last="Strong Jr"]. But rising-junior [player_tooltip player_id="1080193" first="Zion" last="Young"] (pictured) and rising-sophomore <strong>Andrell Burton</strong> got a ton of experience as role players. They each averaged about 5.5 points and 3 rebounds per game last year. Neither Burton nor Young was particularly effective in the state tournament. But they should take a huge step forward this season.</p> <p>Washburn Rural (6A):</p> <p>Graduation claimed all-state star [player_tooltip player_id="599759" first="Joe" last="Berry"], all-league star [player_tooltip player_id="889486" first="Jack" last="Hutchinson"], and steady veteran guards <strong>Josh Williams</strong> and <strong>Davan Brady</strong>. Time to rebuild for the Junior Blues. The effort will start with [player_tooltip player_id="1080168" first="Jack" last="Bachelor"], a rising-junior who has played a ton of varsity already. He’s got a diverse skill set and is developing physically into a guy who can lead the team. He scored in double figures a few times last year, but is capable of much more in the future.</p> <p>Highland Park (5A):</p> <p>The Scots said farewell to veterans [player_tooltip player_id="889474" first="Corey" last="Powell"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1070194" first="Jahi" last="Peppers"], a couple of 5A all-state caliber players. Look for senior [player_tooltip player_id="1076400" first="Juan’Tario" last="Roberts"] to lead the team this season. The slashing guard has been a varsity mainstay for three years already. He averaged 15.3 points and 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals. Roberts excels at getting out in transition and attacking the rim, but he also shot 36% from deep last year.</p> <p>Shawnee Heights (5A):</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1072892" first="Isiah" last="Johnson"] and Harvey Davis took about 27 points per game with them when they graduated. They were a “Mr. Inside/Mr. Outside” tandem that starred on varsity for the T-Birds for years. Shawnee Heights will look to rising senior <strong>Nathan Pewe</strong>, who really took off in the second half of last season. The 6-foot-4 wing is an athletic and versatile performer who showed a few times last year that he can really shoot from the perimeter. He grabbed 6.0 rebounds last year, and shot a solid 55% from inside the arc, and 35% from beyond the arc.</p>