2024 Ranking Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the 2024s transitioned from their sophomore to junior seasons, the guys at the top of the Prep Hoops rankings held firm. [player_tooltip player_id='1270090' first='TJ' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1270094' first='Andrell' last='Burton'] remained firmly at #1 and #2, and the next group of guys stayed solid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But starting at #9, we found a lot of opportunity for reshuffling. Guys in the middle jockeyed for positions, and some guys near the bottom of the list deserved to be bumped up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the players who took the biggest leaps in the 2024 update:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1300857' first='Logan' last='Garner'], 5-foot-10 point guard, 2024 El Dorado – #40 from #67 (27 spots) (pictured):&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The struggling Wildcats have looked to Garner as their number one option at the offensive end. After making the ranking list based on his fine play last summer, Garner suddenly became one of the top scoring guards in the class. He exploded in December with 31 against Pratt and 29 against Hutch Trinity. He creates a lot of offense with his active play at the defensive end. The junior is producing 19 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1461339' first='Cory' last='Muehler'], 5-foot-11 combo guard, 2024, McPherson – #12 from #31 (19 spots):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite the presence of so many good guards in the class, Muehler is climbing the ranks. He really impressed with his work at last year's 4A state tournament. His work over the summer further cemented his reputation. This season, he is standing out among the stable of great young guards at McPherson. He recently earned all tournament in the tough McPherson Invitational.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1461438' first='Sam' last='Kemp'], 6-foot-3 shooting guard, 2024, Valley Center – #43 from #54 (11 spots):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valley Center is relying heavily on Kemp. The long lefty is a versatile guard who can lead the break or look ahead with effective long passes. He creates a lot of mayhem as a defensive ballhawk, and he can score at all three levels. The junior is averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1270299' first='Eli' last='Lawson'], 6-foot-7 center, 2024, Bennington – #10 from #19 (9 spots):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawson has established himself as the best center in the 2024 class. He showed over the summer that his traditional, fundamental style in the post works even against the big school competition. He understandably racks up big stats at the 2A level. He's averaging 20 points and 12 boards and has the Bulldogs climbing in the state rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1461338' first='Joey' last='Matteoni'], 6-foot-6 power forward, 2024, Blue Valley Northwest – #11 from #20 (9 spots)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Matteoni made an enormous leap into the rankings last May, jumping in all the way to #22. But he's since impressed on the summer circuit and become a rebounding machine and versatile rim protecting floor runner for the Huskies. The junior shoots a remarkable 65% from the floor and grabs 11 boards a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1461341' first='Logan' last='Sullivan'], 6-foot-3 shooting guard, 2024, Eudora – #30 from #41 (9 spots):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's no surprise that Sullivan has grown into a big role for Eudora. He was already developing into a go-to player in the spring of his sophomore year for the top-ranked Cardinals. What's perhaps more surprising is that the Cardinals are back in the hunt, currently ranked #3 in 4A, despite losing a couple of really important big men from last season. Sullivan is the epitome of a scorer. He can catch and shoot, put it on the floor to get to an open shot, or put it up creatively in traffic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->