Top Rated 2023s in the Wild West

<p>Some of the best players in the state are doing it in the far west, where it’s tough to get a lot of notoriety. These players, and their teams, deserve credit and some attention.</p> <p>Sitting near the top the 2023 rankings are [player_tooltip player_id="1080162" first="Caleb" last="Wiese"], a powerful presence for Garden City, and [player_tooltip player_id="1080178" first="Britton" last="Dutton"], a bucket-getting flash for Ellinwood. Plenty has been written about those two. Here is a look at some of the other top 2023s from the far west at the midpoint of the season:</p> <p>#40 [player_tooltip player_id="1080198" first="Jaxson" last="Brandl"], 6-foot-1 guard, 2023, Greeley County:</p> <p>The lefty dead-eye shooter has been getting it done in a big way for a couple of years now. This season he’s racking up 21 points per game while also gathering 9 rebounds. The Jackrabbits only loss came to tough Ness City, which would indicate Brandl and company will have a say come playoff time.</p> <p>#43 [player_tooltip player_id="1080199" first="Braxton" last="Lafferty"], 5-foot-11 guard, 2023 Little River:</p> <p>Multi-sporter Lafferty has the tough task of trying to make up for the graduation of superstar Jayden Garrison. Lafferty had an all-state football season, and he’s now averaging 14.1 points and 6.0 rebounds for the Redskins. And check out his 3.4 steals at the defensive end. Little River has lost a few more than usual, but they are young and building for something special.</p> <p>#51 [player_tooltip player_id="1080203" first="Ryle" last="Riddlesperger"], 6-foot-1 guard, 2023, Hugoton:</p> <p>Because Hugoton is deep and talented, Riddlesparger doesn’t have to do it all. He’s a knock-down shooter who dropped a game winner in a tournament win over Smoky Valley recently. The versatile junior is popping in 12.3 points while also dishing out 2.7 assists for a Hugoton team building for a playoff run.</p> <p>#62 [player_tooltip player_id="1212164" first="Dylan" last="Werth"], 6-foot-7 forward, 2023, Thomas More Prep:</p> <p>Werth is a long forward who dominates the glass and can block shots as well as fill it up for the 3A Monarchs. He can knock it down from the midrange and is tough to stop in the paint. He racked up 20 points in the Mid-Continent League championship win over [player_tooltip player_id="1139918" first="Charlie" last="Russell"] and 2A power Trego last weekend.</p> <p>#64 [player_tooltip player_id="1212165" first="Alec" last="Carlson"], 6-foot-1 guard, 2023, Pawnee Heights:</p> <p>One of the top scorers in the state for three years, the junior is at it again, going for 20.3 per game for Pawnee Heights.</p> <p>#65 [player_tooltip player_id="1212166" first="Jett" last="Vincent"], 6-foot-2 forward, 2023, Wheatland-Grinnell:</p> <p>Also one of the best small-school football players in Kansas, Vincent is building on a great sophomore basketball season with even better numbers this year. He’s averaging 15.5 points and 9.8 boards a game. He and his brother Trey will help make the Thunderhawks a team to be reckoned with again this playoff season.</p> <p>#70 [player_tooltip player_id="1213186" first="Ryan" last="Kuckelman"], 6-foot-6 forward, 2023, Macksville:</p> <p>The big man averaged a double-double as a sophomore, and is doing nearly the same for a really diverse and talented Mustang team. Macksville is 12-1, ranked #6 in 1A Div. I, and doesn’t rely on any one player to beat you.</p>