Western KS 2025 Bigs Excel at KC

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kids from all over the Midwest converged on Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City to test themselves at the Hardwood Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several from Western Kansas Elite showed they should not be overlooked when considering top 2025s. Here are some wings and bigs from the west who stood out at the Hardwood Classic:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jay Acosta</strong>, 6-foot forward, 2025, Hugoton, Western Kansas Elite:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ok, so Acosta isn't really a forward. But as a 6-foot rising sophomore, he is a real Swiss Army knife-type. He can play guard and handle the ball, but he's real physical and mixes it up with bigs in the paint. With lots of small ball handlers on his club team, Acosta plays more of a forward role. He showed tremendous hustle at the Hardwood Classic, grabbing a lot of boards and pushing them up the floor to make dynamic plays in transition. He is always on the attack at both ends. He is good at moving his feet to cut of drivers, and he uses his strength to shut them down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brady Brumbaugh</strong>, 6-foot-2 forward, 2025, Goodland, Western Kansas Elite:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brumbaugh is a lanky wing player who can score from all three levels effectively. He doesn't tie up the ball trying to do too much. He showed a nice floater from different angles and off the glass. He showed hustle to chase down plays and to defend the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linkon Cure</strong>, 6-foot-5 forward, 2025, Goodland, Western Kansas Elite:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An advanced athlete for his age, Cure plays above the crowd and can do a lot of impressive things from a physical standpoint. He has great hands and coordination. He can pass over the defense and has vision for open teammates. He sometimes tries to make overly difficult passes, but his skill is undeniable. He can handle the ball from end to end and make a lot of creative things happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2413178' first='Brody' last='Keller']</strong>, 6-foot-3 forward, 2025, Syracuse, Western Kansas Elite:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keller is a long forward who patrols the paint as the tallest member of his club team. He denies entry passes and bodies up the posts. He has a diverse skill set and uses his length to his advantage. He has soft hands to receive the ball in the post or on the move. He showed some toughness to finish in transition, and he also demonstrated an effective floater at the Hardwood Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->