Back to State: 4A Tourney Teams Return Significant Talent
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The 4A tournament was a blast last season. A lot of the top teams from a year ago look to be strong again this year. Here are the teams from last year’s 4A tournament who return the most talent: Hugoton…
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Continue ReadingThe 4A tournament was a blast last season. A lot of the top teams from a year ago look to be strong again this year.
Here are the teams from last year’s 4A tournament who return the most talent:
Hugoton – finished first in 2023:
Hugoton lost its two best players from last year, a couple of special talents. But don’t shed any tears for the Eagles. They return reliable players at every position. They have quality point guard play in Dasean Lewis Dasean Lewis 5'10" | PG Hugoton | 2024 State KS and Griffin Heger. They have physical versatility in Emmett Gaskill Emmett Gaskill 6'3" | SG Hugoton | 2024 State KS and athletic bigs in Isaac Martin and Izeyah Harris Izeyah Harris 6'5" | PF Hugoton | 2024 State KS . And there’s even more talent further down the bench.
McPherson – finished second in 2023:
Graduation didn’t deprive McPherson of a lot, but they lost one important transfer from last season. Still, this team is loaded. Kyden Thompson Kyden Thompson 6'2" | SG McPherson | 2024 State KS (pictured) and Cory Muehler Cory Muehler 5'11" | CG McPherson | 2024 State KS are two of the best guards in the state. Together they are versatile, complementary pieces. Owen Pyle Owen Pyle 6'2" | CG McPherson | 2024 KS is a reliable ball handler and brilliant shooter who may be ready to pick up a bigger role. Gabe Pyle Gabe Pyle 6'5" | SF McPherson | 2025 State KS is a long forward who can really light it up.
Atchison – lost to Bishop Miege in first round:
Even despite a couple of key graduations and a significant transfer, the Phoenix return a ton from last year’s tourney team. They have two tough, athletic and dangerous guards in Xiomar Hernandez Xiomar Hernandez 6'0" | SG Atchison | 2024 State KS and Trey Carter Trey Carter 5'9" | PG Atchison | 2024 State KS . Those two score, distribute and are leaders with the ball in their hands. Atchison also has two impressive big men to build around in Jeter Purdy Jeter Purdy 6'4" | PF Atchison | 2024 State KS and Jace Richards.
Clay Center – lost to Hugoton in first round:
Two of the Tigers’ best players last season were sophomores. Cole Pladson Cole Pladson 5'10" | SG Clay Center | 2025 State KS is a physical guard who can really shoot it. He will team well in the backcourt with Jace Weller and Owen Craig, versatile guards who can score. Justin Wright, Jackson Henry and Walker Henry all played key minutes and will bring experience to the team.
Baldwin – lost to Eudora in first round:
Like Hugoton, Baldwin loses its two best players from last year, but the group that surrounded them is all back. Guard Cooper Carr Cooper Carr 6'2" | CG Baldwin | 2026 State KS was one of the state’s leading freshmen last year, and he will likely be option one this season. Ryker Grossner is a highly productive big man who can shoot it and Talan Torrez and Joseph Ziembicki are reliable guards.