Small Schools’ Top Freshmen Contributors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've worked our way through the bigger classes, highlighting 2026s who made an impact as freshmen. It's not necessarily a list of the best players in the class. But it does serve as a nice place to start when looking at who will be the top players in the state the next three years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Small schools are often more likely to offer playing time right away to talented ninth graders than are big schools. We saw some good ones last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few of the Top Freshmen Contributors from the 2A and 1A classes last season (in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2211366' first='Wes' last='Anderson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Frankfort","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A quarterback who looked really good distributing the ball on the football field, Anderson showed some of the same traits on the basketball court as a freshman. He's deft with the ball and gets it to the open man, and he's got a quick release. The freshman showed a good feel for finding soft spots in defenses to let loose from deep. He hit enough three-pointers and made enough plays all over the court to earn some honorable mentions on the state level. He is a multi-sport athlete to watch going forward.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Tanner Bruna","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Hanover","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Only a close loss to Axtell prevented Hanover from continuing their traditional trip to the state tournament. Bruna was primarily used as a rebounder and defender for much of the season, but he gained a bigger role as the season played out. Some nights he was scoring in double figures, while other nights he was racking up rebounds. He finished with 5 points and 5 boards a game for a very competitive team. 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II state tournament after compiling a 19-5 record. They return a lot of talent, so watch for this team to be a contender again. Horinek was one of the team's leaders as a ninth grader. He was often in the playmaker role and he averaged 10.5 points and 3 assists per game. He hit 34% from deep and had three games with 20 or more points. 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II state tournament. One of the team's leaders was the freshman Thalheim, who stuffed the stat sheet in with 5 reb, 2 assists and 3 steals. He hit 33% from deep en route to 9 points per game. The Huskies return a ton of talent, so keep them on your radar next season.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c429d640aca"} /-->