Guys Looking to Get Going in January

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of players dealt with injuries and setbacks to begin the 2023-2024 basketball season. None more noticeable than [player_tooltip player_id='2209780' first='Sebastian' last='Hines-Turner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2211301' first='Jaden' last='Parker'] from the Wichita Collegiate rotation. A team that went 20-4 last year, the Spartans were expected to be headliners this year with three precocious freshmen returning for their sophomore seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hines-Turner and Parker have been absent thus far due to injuries from football season. The Spartans have held it together, going 3-3. The return of their injured stars could turn things around in a hurry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For a variety of reasons, certain guys are trying to rebound, get healthy or prove themselves in the new year. Here are some other players looking to get things going in January (in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1962887' first='Amare' last='Jones'], 6-foot guard, 2025, Washburn Rural (pictured):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Junior Blues are one of the most consistent programs in the state. It's been a surprise, therefore, to see them start the year 0-6. One explanation is the absence of their rising star point guard Jones. He gained a ton of fans by gradually taking over leadership of the team as a sophomore. Big things were expected for his junior season, but an injury sidelined him for the fall. It's no coincidence that the Junior Blues took undefeated Junction City to the wire in Jones' first game back. He accounted for 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in the loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2387815' first='Tony' last='Moore']</strong>, 6-foot guard, 2024, Hoisington:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The star quarterback took the Cardinals to the brink of a football championship. That left precious little time for the school to prepare its hoops team for a game on Dec. 1. Not surprisingly, they lost their first two contests and ended December with a 2-3 record. But the senior Moore is doing all he can to bring the winning ways of the football team to the court. He's providing 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per game. Don't count the Cardinals out based on their slow start.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2314793' first='Howard' last='Peoples']</strong>, 6-foot-4 forward, 2024, Bishop Miege:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a strange season at Miege. Gone are the phenoms who dominated a couple of years ago. They didn't return much experience from last season's state tourney team. They did add Peoples, a big athlete who is chomping at the bit to achieve his potential. The Stags lost all four of their games in December, mostly against teams from other states. There was no realistic measuring stick for how they'll do in the Kansas ranks. But this proud school won't pack it in, and Peoples is a veteran who can help turn it around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1575955' first='Zavier' last='Phillips'], 6-foot-4 guard, 2024, Labette County:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a couple of standout big men in the senior class, no one expected the Grizzlies to struggle so mightily out of the gate. Their 0-7 start seems inexplicable. If they are turn things around, look for Phillips to take his game up a notch. His stats in December don't match the type of explosive, skilled athlete he is. Keep an eye on this 4A program for a turnaround.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1512900' first='Mikey' last='Williams']</strong>, 6-foot-1 guard, 2025, Highland Park:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Scots blew out three opponents in December. They faced criticism that they didn't get challenged. That will change today when they face undefeated Atchison. Highland Park graduated a full crew of senior studs. Junior Williams will be one of a handful of Scots who has a chance to prove they are ready for full-time responsibilities. He is a skilled big guard who can do a lot of things. Now is the time for him to show it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->