Room at the Top – Candidates for 1A Div. II All-State

Prep Hoops Staff

July 2, 2023 @ 05:11 PM

Finishing up our look at all the classes in Kansas for players who might rise up to fill vacancies on the all-state teams. We conclude with the 1A Div. II class, where quite a few returners earned some level of all-state recognition. Found on most of the teams were [player_tooltip player_id='1588418' first='Daniel' last='Cramer'], [player_tooltip player_id='1588413' first='Lincoln' last='Shafer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1756349' first='Kenton' last='Thalheim']. Also getting on some all state teams were [player_tooltip player_id='2147803' first='Daniel' last='Eilert'], [player_tooltip player_id='1962893' first='Jamie' last='Sarmiento'] and Heath Howell.   There's a good chance those guys will repeat the honor. But that still leaves room for some new guys to rise up to claim 1A Div. II all-state spots next spring. Here's our best guess of some who may get that honor (in alphabetical order):   [player_tooltip player_id='1962894' first='Luke' last='Albers'], 5-foot-11 guard, 2025, Cunningham:   With Albers leading Cunningham as a sophomore, the Wildcats just missed out on a trip to state. The versatile guard averaged 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. He shot a solid 34% from deep and busted out for 23 or more points five times. His role really grew as the season unfolded.   Davin Hamby, 5-foot-10 guard, 2024, Pawnee Heights:   There's going to be some big changes at Pawnee Heights. Legendary bucket-getter Alec Carlson wound up his career, having scored more than 1,800 points. The problem was, it didn't translate to trips to state. To improve on their 15-7 record from a year ago, the Tigers will look to Hamby for leadership. As a junior he supported Carlson with 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. He'll be the go-to senior next year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1378446' first='Carson' last='Shimer'], 6-foot-4 forward, 2024, Dighton:   One of the more talented bigs in the lowest school classification, Shimer had some of his season scratched by injury. If he earns all-state honors, it won't be a surprise. He earned some all-state mentions as a sophomore when he averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds.   [player_tooltip player_id='2387736' first='Grayson' last='Shoemaker'], 6-foot-2 forward, 2024, Lebo:   Shoemaker and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='2393818' first='Zach' last='Oswald'] labored in the shadow of all-state senior guard Landon Grimmett as the team advanced all the way to the state tournament final game. They will assume leadership of the team next year. Shoemaker showed he's capable, averaging 16 points and 6 boards and ripping St. John's/Tipton with 30 points in the tournament.   [player_tooltip player_id='2169874' first='Brandon' last='Schmelzle'], 6-2 forward, 2025, Axtell;   The balanced Eagles got 12 points and 7 rebounds a game from the sophomore Schmelzle en route to the state tournament. He kept up the scoring pace with 33 points in three games at state. Axtell returns a ton of the pieces from that team, so watch for Schmelzle to be in the news again next year.

Finishing up our look at all the classes in Kansas for players who might rise up to fill vacancies on the all-state teams. We conclude with the 1A Div. II class, where quite a few returners earned some level of all-state recognition. Found on most of the teams were Daniel Cramer Daniel Cramer 5'10" | CG Dighton | 2025 State KS , Lincoln Shafer Lincoln Shafer 6'1" | CG Greeley County | 2025 State KS and Kenton Thalheim Kenton Thalheim 6'0" | CG Northern Valley | 2024 State KS . Also getting on some all state teams were Daniel Eilert Daniel Eilert 6'2" | CG Beloit-St. John's | 2024 State KS , Jamie Sarmiento Jamie Sarmiento 5'7" | PG South Central | 2025 State KS and Heath Howell.