Most Outstanding Player Update: 1A Div. I
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With just a few weeks left in the season, we took a look at candidates for Most Outstanding Player of 1A Div. I. Here’s a list of “frontrunners,” “risers” and “sneakers.” The Frontrunners: Truman Bailey Truman Bailey 6'3" | SG…
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Continue ReadingWith just a few weeks left in the season, we took a look at candidates for Most Outstanding Player of 1A Div. I. Here’s a list of “frontrunners,” “risers” and “sneakers.”
The Frontrunners:
Truman Bailey Truman Bailey 6'3" | SG Olpe | 2023 State KS – The Olpe Eagles are on a mission to collect their third straight state title. Bailey is the unquestioned leader of this year’s version. He is the lone returning starter and is more than just producing. He’s showing the new charges what it takes. Bailey does some of everything as a big, physical, playmaking guard.
Ryan Kuckelman Ryan Kuckelman 6'6" | PF Macksville | 2023 State KS – Macksville finished third last year, and Kuckelman is the one unique piece on a team of interchangeable pieces. He’s the big man who will have to be big to defend the paint if the Mustangs are to make another run. He is worth a double-double most nights and is the kind of athlete who can impact the game in a variety of ways.
Braxton Lafferty Braxton Lafferty 5'11" | CG Little River | 2023 State KS – Little River is always a team to reckon with, and Lafferty is the leader of the most recent teams. He’s an experienced athlete who does it all. As the playmaking, distributing guard who has the ball in his hand most of the time. His stat line is impressive: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a crazy 5 steals per game. Little River is lurking around outside the Top 10. Lafferty has been in state tournaments before and knows what it will take to make a run.
The Risers:
Jonathan Hamel Jonathan Hamel 5'9" | CG Osborne | 2024 State KS – Osborne is rocking along with Hamel leading the way. The senior is good for 19 points and turns in about 5 steals a game. Hamel led the Bulldogs to the state tournament a year ago and he’s pushing to do it again.
Carter Sinclair – Wichita Classical has a nice balance to its lineup, but Sinclair might be the one to watch down the stretch. He’s a long, athletic big who will have to lock down the paint if the Saints are to go far. He averages 13 points and 5 boards a game.
The Sneakers:
Peyton Rush – The 6-foot-2 forward from Oxford is a double-double machine. He has helped lead the Wildcats to a big improvement from last season’s 9-14 mark. How far they can go remains to be seen, but Rush is certainly doing his part, averaging 12 points, 10 rebounds and a couple of assists per game.