Who Will Challenge McPherson in AVCTL Div III?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McPherson was loaded last year and came up just short in the 4A title race, ultimately falling to the juggernaut from Hugoton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can anyone in the league unseat McPherson this year?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Div III Preview:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Preseason Player of the Year:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1436793' first='Kyden' last='Thompson'], 6-foot-2 guard, 2024, McPherson:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson won't be just the top player in this league. He will be among the best across the state regardless of age or class. He's a dynamic playmaker who has the versatility to play wherever the team needs him. He's just a lot of fun to watch. He will lead a loaded team, so his stats might not tell the whole story. This guy can go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Preseason Team of the Year: McPherson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with a few significant departures, McPherson is just too loaded not to place in this spot. In addition to Thompson, they return some other top flight guards and knock down shooters. They will need to replace a good big man in <strong>Mason Miller</strong>. But this town just grows basketball players. There will be plenty of guys lined up for their shot at varsity action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Player to Watch:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1270098' first='Kaiden' last='Abasolo'], 6-foot guard, 2024, Mulvane:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If he's healthy, Abasolo is a scoring machine. He has been a mainstay with the Wildcats since his freshman season and he knows how to produce. Mulvane returns some talent and could be a team to watch this season. Abasolo will be in the lead as a powerful, physical veteran who gets buckets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other Top Players (in alphabetical order):&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2314781' first='Conner' last='Chadwell']</strong>, 6-foot-1 guard, 2024, Circle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gavin Kiser</strong>, 6-foot-4 forward, 2024, Augusta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1301597' first='Ethan' last='Koehn'], 6-foot-2 guard, 2024, Circle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1773693' first='Aiden' last='McKee'], 6-foot-1 guard, 2024, Mulvane</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1461339' first='Cory' last='Muehler'], 6-foot guard, 2024, McPherson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1556702' first='Owen' last='Pyle'], 6-foot-1 guard, 2024, McPherson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Logan Ruddle</strong>, 6-foot-2 forward, 2024, Augusta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising Star:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2321572' first='Gabe' last='Pyle']</strong>, 6-foot-4 forward, 2025, McPherson:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pyle played in a supporting role for the Bullpups as a sophomore, and was a key part of their run to the state finals. He is a long wing who can flat light it up from deep. He's springy and has solid perimeter skills, but also has the length to make an impact in the paint. He may be asked to spend more time in the paint as McPherson seeks height to complement their brilliant collection of guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Rising Stars (in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Hutto</strong>, 5-foot-10 guard, 2026, Winfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ryland Parker</strong>, 5-foot-10 guard, 2025, Buhler</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->