Most Outstanding Player Candidates: 3A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Graduations and early departures have left the 4A class without any clear cut favorite for the top spot. Here's a look at some candidates who might rise to Most Outstanding status:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Frontrunners:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1080163' first='Eli' last='Sawyers'], 6-foot-7 forward, 2023, Southeast of Saline:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sawyers might not rack up stats to blow your mind. But he's a consistently productive team player. He does some of everything, every time out. His height will be tough for 3A opponents this year, but his ball skills are what make him special. He passes, runs and rebounds. Southeast of Saline looks like the powerhouse this year. If they are, Sawyers will be high on this list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1146292' first='Landon' last='Boss'], 6-foot-2 guard, 2023, Osage City:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When you're looking for the most productive all-around athletes of the past three years, you have to start with Boss, who has been a stand out his entire career, be it in football, track or hoops. Prep Hoops has listed him as a forward because of his work on the glass and in the paint, but he's just a versatile baller who can play any position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Outsiders:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1454193' first='Jake' last='Proctor'], 6-foot-4 forward, 2023, Hesston:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Why isn't a two-time state champ a frontrunner? He probably should be. But…the book is still out on what the Swathers will be this year. If they can approximate what they've been the past two years, Proctor will be at the lead. He's a versatile guy with length, athleticism and, obviously, tons of experience. He may have to boost his 15 point-per-game average if the Swathers are to be good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1268858' first='Jackson' last='Swartz'] , 6-foot-5 forward, 2023, Chaparral:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wow did this guy explode last year. He stuffed the stat sheet like few can. He averaged 3 steals and 4 assists to go with all his points and rebounds. He runs the floor like few big men, and plays with tons of energy. The problem was, his team went just 13-9. If Swartz can lift the team to the next level this year, his stats make him a top candidate for Most Outstanding Player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Surprise Candidates:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1146295' first='Hunter' last='Vaughn'], 5-foot-11 guard, 2023, Colby:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vaughn shows such brilliant point guard play on the summer circuit, why wouldn't he be a frontrunner? Well, his team needs to win for him to be considered Most Outstanding Player. They didn't do enough winning his junior season. If things improve at Colby, it will be primarily due to the great distribution and leadership of this consummate trigger man. He averaged 19 points per game as a junior, and may need to lift that number as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1378391' first='Nakari' last='Morrical-Palmer'], 6-foot-4 forward, 2023, Southeast of Saline (pictured):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southeast of Saline is loaded, so perhaps no player will go for big statistical numbers. But keep an eye on the ultra-athletic Morrical-Palmer. While teammate Sawyer has grabbed more attention for the past three years, Morrical-Palmer is the more likely to stuff the stat sheet. He is a powerful leaper, he passes well and is tough to keep off the glass. While he's gone about it quietly, Morrical-Palmer has shown he's one of the state's best players. Don't be surprised, if Southeast of Saline reaches the pinnacle, that Morrical-Palmer isn't the guy grabbing the headlines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1461340' first='Will' last='Cravens'], 6-foot-2 guard, 2024, Ellsworth:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athlete. That's probably the best word to describe Cravens, who turned in a really nice season as quarterback of a tough Ellsworth football team. But watch out for this high flyer on the hard court. He hasn't received a ton of notoriety yet, but Cravens showed in summer action that he's one of the slickest, springiest and most dynamic guards at any level. If he puts it together statistically, and the Bearcats win at a high level, Cravens will get a lot more recognition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->