Mid East League Preview

<p>Two of the top ranked 2A teams will probably vie for the top spot in the Mid-East League. But some other good players and teams will merit attention this year.</p> <p>Preseason Player of the Year:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1147992" first="Brayden" last="Meseke"], 5-foot-11 guard, 2022, Wabaunsee:</p> <p>It’s hard to pick a Player of the Year in this league. There are lots of candidates, but Meseke gets the nod because he’s the senior leader of the defending 2A state runner up. He was a second-team all-state pick last year after he helped the Chargers endure a disastrous start to put together a remarkable run.</p> <p>Returning Stars:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1146270" first="Keller" last="Hurla"], 6-foot guard, 2023, St. Marys:</p> <p>Hurla was probably the closest competitor to Meseke for the Player of the Year. With St. Marys dropping to 2A, things are a little more interesting in the Wabaunsee/St. Marys matchup. Hurla earned third-team 3A last year. He’s on a talented and deep team, so his stats may not jump out at you, but he’s good.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1076411" first="Fred" last="Criqui"], 6-foot-7 center, 2022, St. Marys:</p> <p>Criqui has earned so much respect on the summer circuit. He hasn’t become a star on the high school scene…yet. This may be the year for the big, fundamentally sound post who can do so much.</p> <p>Other Returning Stars (in alphabetical order):</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1080917" first="Kamryn" last="Kaniper"], 6-foot-4 forward, 2023, Silver Lake</p> <p><strong>Jaxon Hurla</strong>, 5-foot-8 guard, 2022, St. Marys</p> <p><strong>Cade Oliver</strong>, 6-foot guard, 2022, Wabaunsee</p> <p>Players to watch:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1268824" first="Trey" last="Harmison"], 6-foot-1 guard, 2022, Riley County:</p> <p>Harmison bears watching because his injury status remains up in the air. Will he try to play this year after suffering injury during the football season? He is currently receiving some attention from colleges for football. But he was an all-league basketball talent a year ago with much to offer if he comes back.</p> <p><strong>Kade Perine</strong>, 5-foot-4 guard, 2023, Rossville:</p> <p>Fresh off a football championship, the gritty, hard-nosed point guard won’t need long to switch gears. Perine is fun to watch for his fiery intensity and his skills with the ball. He’s not big, but he backs down from nothing. Rossville really struggled last year, and if the team is to improve, Perine will help lead it to happen.</p> <p>Other Players to Watch:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1146300" first="Eli" last="Oliver"], 6-foot guard, 2023, Wabaunsee</p> <p><strong>Dawson Schultz</strong>, 5-foot-8 guard, 2022, Wabaunsee</p> <p><strong>Luke Womach</strong>, 5-foot-11 guard, 2022, Silver Lake</p>