Best in Western Kansas

Last but not least, we look to the far west for our “Best of” series.

Prep Hoops Kansas wraps up the series with our take on the Best in Western Kansas:

Top ranked senior – (tie) #17, Tanner Heckel Tanner Heckel 6'0" | CG Lyndon | 2024 State KS , 5-foot-11 guard, 2024, Inman, and #18, Bryce Beisner Bryce Beisner 6'5" | PF Beloit | 2024 State KS , 6-foot-5 forward, 2024, Beloit:

Ok, so calling these guys “Western Kansas” might be a bit of a stretch. But we’ll talk about them here, because they deserve to be talked about. Heckel has had a stellar multi-sport career already, and he will be the unquestioned team leader on the court as Inman loses some good players to graduation. Heckel, who averaged 18 points per game as a junior, has received all-state consideration all three years at Inman. Beisner is a long, high energy forward who crashes the glass and runs the floor. He averaged 13.5 points and 8 boards for a really good Beloit team. Even though their addresses are more centrally located, both of these rising seniors deserve mention as “best in the west.”

Top ranked junior – #31, Jackson Rumford Jackson Rumford 6'5" | C Scott Community | 2025 State KS , 6-foot-5 center, 2205, Scott Community:

The 3A classification has featured some pretty good big men who graduated in 2023. Look for Rumford to move up as one of the most productive bigs in 3A next season. He earned 3A honorable mention from most of the media outlets after his sophomore year in which he posted a nice stat line of 18 points, 8 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Most Underappreciated – Manny Gonzalez Manny Gonzalez 5'9" | PG Goodland | 2024 State KS , 5-foot-9 guard, 2024, Goodland (pictured):

Gonzalez fits the profile of a perfect traditional point guard. He handles the ball competently, distributes it selflessly to teammates, leads with toughness, and gives opposing guards fits defensively. He averaged 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

Top rising talent – Guy Tubbs Guy Tubbs 6'3" | PF Colby | 2025 State KS , 6-foot-3 forward, 2025, Colby:

This physical, athletic forward is a mismatch nightmare in the paint. He elevates easily for dunks of the one- and two-hand variety and moves without the ball to get in position to score, even leaking out from the wing for fast breaks. He has nice touch on his jumper in the midrange, extending out to beyond the arc. He averaged 13 points and 7.5 boards as a sophomore.

Top team – Goodland

Clifton-Clyde and Medicine Lodge might be deserving in this spot, but we’ll give some attention to 3A Goodland due to the exciting group of players they return. The Cowboys’ 14-9 record a year ago doesn’t look too impressive, but two of those losses were to state-bound Colby and one was to eventual 4A champion Hugoton. They also lost to 6A Garden City and 5A Hays. Those losses should provide good experience for this team that returns essentially everyone. This team has quality guards in Gonzalez and Cole Linton and athletic bigs in Linkon Cure Linkon Cure 6'5" | PF Goodland | 2025 State KS and Noah Shinette Noah Shinette 6'3" | PF Goodland | 2024 State KS . The Cowboys get offensive firepower from Brady Brumbaugh Brady Brumbaugh 6'4" | SG Goodland | 2025 State KS , and they have a wildcard in rising sophomore Braylon Mull.