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. Here are some voids left from graduation at 4A schools, and guys who may get called…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inAs summer action winds down, it’s not too early to look ahead to the roles guys are slated to play next high school season.
Here are some voids left from graduation at 4A schools, and guys who may get called upon to fill them:
Blue Valley North (6A):
Well, there will be no replacing the seniors who graduated from the state champion.
Andrew Orr
Andrew
Orr
6'8" | PF
Blue Valley North | 2021
State
KS
,
Isaac Patterson
Isaac
Patterson
6'5" | PF
Blue Valley North | 2021
State
KS
and
Nikko Taylor
Nikko
Taylor
6'6" | SF
Blue Valley North | 2021
State
KS
were each all-state type of star players. Add in steady veteran
Luke Adams
Luke
Adams
5'11" | CG
Blue Valley North | 2021
State
KS
, and you had a super group in the class of 2021. There will be a huge void left, which rising senior
Kernan Bundy
Kernan
Bundy
6'3" | SG
Blue Valley North | 2022
State
KS
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.
Campus (6A):
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
Sterling Chapman
Sterling
Chapman
6'4" | CG
Campus | 2021
State
KS
or
Stevie Strong Jr
Stevie
Strong Jr
6'1" | PG
Campus | 2021
State
KS
. But rising-junior
Zion Young
Zion
Young
6'2" | CG
Life Prep | 2023
State
KS
(pictured) and rising-sophomore Andrell Burton 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.
Washburn Rural (6A):
Graduation claimed all-state star
Joe Berry
Joe
Berry
6'4" | CG
Washburn Rural | 2021
State
KS
, all-league star
Jack Hutchinson
Jack
Hutchinson
5'11" | CG
Hayden | 2021
State
KS
, and steady veteran guards Josh Williams and Davan Brady. Time to rebuild for the Junior Blues. The effort will start with
Jack Bachelor
Jack
Bachelor
6'0" | CG
Washburn Rural | 2023
State
KS
, 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.
Highland Park (5A):
The Scots said farewell to veterans Corey Powell Corey Powell 6'4" | PF Highland Park | 2021 State KS and Jahi Peppers Jahi Peppers 5'9" | CG Highland Park | 2021 State KS , a couple of 5A all-state caliber players. Look for senior Juan’Tario Roberts Juan’Tario Roberts 5'10" | CG Highland Park | 2022 State KS 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.
Shawnee Heights (5A):
Isiah Johnson Isiah Johnson 5'10" | CG Shawnee Heights | 2021 State KS 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 Nathan Pewe, 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.
