Most Outstanding Player Candidates: 5A

Will it be a household name, or a dark horse candidate, who stands out as the Most Outstanding Player in the 5A classification?

The Frontrunners:

Eli Shetlar Eli Shetlar 6'5" | SG Andover | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-4 guard, 2023, Andover:

It was hard to narrow down the field of “frontrunners” in 5A, but there’s no question that Shetlar belongs in the mix. He’s the lead dog on a team loaded for bear. He might not have to score a ton of points. The guys around him will get their share. But Shetlar deserves mention as a Most Outstanding Player because everyone recognizes his next-level abilities.

Ketraleus Aldridge Ketraleus Aldridge 6'4" | SF Highland Park | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-4 guard, 2023, Highland Park:

When it comes to playmakers, there aren’t many to rival Aldridge. He’s just too explosive, too athletic, too powerful for most high school competition. He’s on a team loaded with athletes too, so it will be off to the races at Highland Park. Aldridge may not have to rack up a lot of stats night in and night out, but when you’re in the gym, he’s the one who stands out.

David Cobin David Cobin 5'10" | PG De Soto | 2024 State #270 Nation KS , 5-foot-9 guard, 2024, De Soto:

Cobin was pretty much the Player of the 5A Tournament last year as a sophomore. He went off against the best competition the class had to offer, scoring a remarkable amount of points in leading his team to second place in the tournament. If he can sustain anything close to that, he’ll be arguably the most valuable player in the state.

Kobe Smith Kobe Smith 6'1" | CG Andover Central | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-1 guard, 2023, Andover Central (pictured):

Smith is on a team that looks to be pretty talented, but it will rely heavily upon his leadership and playmaking ability. He averaged 20 points and 5 boards as a junior, and he’s capable of that night in and night out.

The Outsiders:

Tyson Ruud Tyson Ruud 6'5" | SF Basehor-Linwood | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-6 forward, 2023, Basehor-Linwood:

Ruud was good last year, don’t get us wrong. He was the leading scorer for a really good Basehor-Linwood team. But this guy just continues to grow and develop. He may just take his game to a whole other level as a senior. He’s a freight train in transition, a springy, long-armed shot blocker, and an efficient scorer at all three levels.

Will Rost Will Rost 6'3" | SG Aquinas | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-4 guard, 2023, Aquinas:

Sure, he can do a lot on the court. He can shoot, score, distribute, rebound and defend. But what will make him special this year is if he can lead. He’s surrounded by a really talented group of young players. If they are to go far, it will probably be because Rost puts the team first, shows the young guys the way, and occasionally makes plays when the team needs them.

The Surprise Candidates:

Garrett Robertson Garrett Robertson 5'10" | PG Hutchinson | 2023 State KS , 5-foot-10 guard, 2023, Hutchinson:

This guy is an absolute sniper from deep. He might give Shetlar a run for his money from behind the arc. Robertson makes this list for a couple of reasons: 1) he’s a distributor from the point who will be the catalyst if the Salthawks are to have a successful season, and 2) Hutchinson High drops down to 5A, so there’s a bit of an unknown quantity surrounding this player and this season. He’s already played a ton of ball, and he’s got a couple of nice weapons to work with this year.

Mason English Mason English 6'2" | SG Pittsburg | 2024 State KS , 6-foot-2 guard, 2024, Pittsburg:

Holy cow can this kid fill it up. His range knows no limits, and when he’s not dropping bombs, he’s getting to the foul line. How his game will translate as a team leader remains to be seen, but there’s no question, he can be one of the most prolific scorers in 5A. If the team wins, he must be considered.