Player News: Transfers, Injuries, Etc.

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keeping up with player movement and roster makeup is one of the toughest parts of the job this time of year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this first edition of “Player News,” we provide updates we've received.. We still haven't received confirmation on whether some of the college football guys are playing basketball or not. And we're still trying to verify some rumors of transfers. Reporting injuries is another issue altogether.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some news and notes we feel safe to report:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prep School News:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First, the big news is that [player_tooltip player_id='1270090' first='TJ' last='Williams'] is back for another go with Wichita Heights. Prep Hoops top-ranked player in the class of 2024 is arguably the top player of all the KSHSAA ranks. He took a quick detour through Sunrise Academy this fall, which made his eligibility a question. But he's back to leading the Falcons and will have a huge impact on this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 2023 who did go the prep route made some news a few weeks ago. <strong>Cameron Carr</strong>, a riser at Manhattan a couple of seasons ago, opted to head to spend his junior season at Link Year Prep in Branson. He hit a growth spurt and blew up to an explosive 6-foot-5 wing. He announced in early November that he would play his college ball at the University of Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Transfers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As usual, some players were on the move during the off season. Some we knew about already, but a few recently popped on our radar. [player_tooltip player_id='1080167' first='Jason' last='Rodriguez'] (pictured), a third-team all state performer for KC Harmon will play his senior season at Miege. The rich just get richer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A recent riser, [player_tooltip player_id='1561980' first='Zeph' last='Clark'] was really growing in his role at Shawnee Mission South. The senior is now at Shawnee Mission West. The Vikings are hoping to improve on a rough 5-15 season a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Footballers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big football news is that [player_tooltip player_id='1080159' first='Will' last='Anciaux'], one of the top forwards in the 2024 class and a football commit to Kansas State, plans to play his senior season at Kapaun. An injury has sidelined the big man, but word is that he plans to return to the court sometime soon. If he does, watch out 5A, because Kapaun is loaded again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1080188' first='Joe' last='Otting'], football commit to Notre Dame, is playing his senior year for Hayden. That decision is a big one for the 4A classification. Otting was big at the state tournament last year and his team adds some interesting pieces for this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1080184' first='Wesley' last='Fair'], multi-sport athlete at Collegiate, Tweeted that he will enroll at Kansas State in January to participate in spring football. The versatile guard did so much for his high school team and will be missed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Injury updates:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another football star, Nemaha Central's <strong>Cooper Hajek</strong>, is rehabbing a football injury and may miss a big portion of the season. The powerful forward will be missed as Nemaha Central has holes to fill in the front court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Topeka is missing a couple of big men in the early going. Seaman's [player_tooltip player_id='1454196' first='Aron' last='Davis'] reportedly had another leg surgery over the summer and is still rehabbing. Topeka High's [player_tooltip player_id='1270302' first='BJ' last='Canady'] is also reportedly out for an extended period due to medical complications.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->