Mid-East League Features Returning Guards
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Schools with great pedigrees will have to try to build around new players this season. Guard play will be excellent as pretty much every school in the league has at least one standout returner. Anyone that can develop a post…
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Continue ReadingSchools with great pedigrees will have to try to build around new players this season. Guard play will be excellent as pretty much every school in the league has at least one standout returner. Anyone that can develop a post presence might emerge as the team to beat.
Mid-East League Preview
Preseason Player of the Year:
Brady Hurla Brady Hurla 5'10" | PG St. Marys | 2025 State KS , 5-foot-11 guard, 2025, St. Marys (pictured):
Hurla has been a part of a lot of winning already in his career. Now the baton has been passed to him. He will be more the focal point of the offense after running the point for a senior-laden team last year. He can light it up from anywhere and is as clever and skilled as any small-school guard.
Preseason Team of the Year: Rock Creek
St. Marys has the pedigree and gets the respect for having been to state last year. But we’ll go with Rock Creek, which wants to build on its 13-9 season a year ago. With Coley Burgess Coley Burgess 6'0" | SG Rock Creek | 2025 State KS and Daegen Vinduska back, they start with a nice tandem to lead the way.
Player to Watch:
Coley Burgess Coley Burgess 6'0" | SG Rock Creek | 2025 State KS , 6-foot guard, 2025, Rock Creek
Interesting that the top two players in the league are junior guards. Burgess is as confident and scrappy as they come. He’s been a team leader for a while, but he will take on an even bigger role this year. He can handle the ball and create his own shots, and he isn’t afraid to attack.
Other Top Players (in alphabetical order):
Zach Frank, 5-foot-8 guard, 2024, Wabaunsee
Eli Harmison, 6-foot guard, 2025, Riley County
Elijah Lopez, 6-foot-5 center, 2024, Silver Lake
Daegen Vinduska, 6-foot-2 forward, 2024, Rock Creek
Rising Star:
Jack Donovan Jack Donovan 5'11" | SG Rossville | 2026 State KS , 5-foot-11 guard, 2026, Rossville:
This guy is a sneaky explosive athlete. He is a standout football player who can run and jump and make plays. He is a dangerous shooter who pretty routinely hits three or more 3-pointers in a game. He has already experienced a lot of success in high school sports, so the spotlight won’t bother him this year.
Others Rising Stars (in alphabetical order):
Cole Frank, 5-foot-9 guard, 2026, Wabausee
Dayne Johnson Dayne Johnson 6'2" | SG Silver Lake | 2026 State KS , 6-foot guard, 2026, Silver Lake
Jakoby McDonnell, 5-foot-3 guard, 2026, Rossville
Howie Rezac, 6-foot-4 center, 2025, St. Marys