5 Breakout Candidates from the Wichita Area

Expect this guy to be the biggest “breakout” of the area. Hanna played an enormous role for the Eagles as a freshman. He provided some quality minutes on the wing, rebounding and defending older players competently. He didn’t put up big stats because he wasn’t asked to. ButMaize graduated a ton from that state qualifying team, so someone will have to take a big leap in minutes and production. Look for the athletic Hanna to become a focal point for the Eagles.

Last year’s really good Valley Center team suffered enormous graduation losses. Kemp is the leading returner from last season. There is room for a whole new starting five to step up, so the role Kemp will play remains to be seen. He’s big enough to play in the interior, but has the ball-handling skills to run the point. The lefty can shoot it from deep, so he might spend a lot of time off the ball as well. Regardless where he lines up, Kemp looks to play a huge role for the Hornets this year.

Everyone will be looking for Jasiah Shields Jasiah Shields 6'0″ | PG Derby | 2023 KS and Dallas Metzger Dallas Metzger 6'3″ | SF Derby | 2024 State KS to take a big leap this season, and with good reason. But keep an eye on Franklin. He’s got a diverse skill set and a ton of physical gifts. He can really get up and defend. He can put the ball on the floor and attack the rim, and he has the combination of power and agility to be a player. He barely got his feet wet last year, but he could make a big jump as a junior.

The Wildcats return some studs in L.J. Berkstresser L.J. Berkstresser 6'0″ | CG El Dorado | 2023 State KS and Barry Summers. But they could use a guard to step up and get them the ball and provide another threat. Garner looked this summer like he could grow into that role. He’s an energetic ball handler who pressures defenses and can score. But he’s an effective distributor and a tough-as-nails gamer. He was a key reserve as a sophomore who might take a big step forward this year.

Andover Central returns so much talent, it’s hard to envision anyone putting up “breakout” stats for them. But they certainly could use a big man who can lock down the paint. Steward is a big man. He battles in the post and crashes the glass. If he can effectively defend the rim, he could be a huge factor for a really talented group of returners. He wouldn’t have to score a lot, but if he does the dirty work well, he could really be a difference maker.