Top Storylines for 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the calendar flips to 2024, we are looking forward to the continuation of the great season kicked off in late 2023. There are a lot of intriguing stories to follow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Are Blue Valley Northwest and Wichita Heights on a collision course once again? Will Kapaun Mt. Carmel get that elusive 5A title this year? Can Bishop Miege live up to its incredibly high standards?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five stories we'll pay particularly close attention to in 2024:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will Wichita Collegiate Put it Together?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They were one of the biggest stories of 2022-2023. They returned some of the best young talent this year. But injuries delayed the debuts of a couple of their most talented players, and they took three losses in December. [player_tooltip player_id='1541007' first='Amare' last='(AJ) Batiste'] took the reins to the tune of 22 points per game. Returners <strong>Jack Grace</strong> and <strong>James Shackleford</strong> have stepped up admirably. If the team can get back to full strength, the Spartans' three early losses probably won't matter much.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Are These Teams For Real?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several teams have glossy records and impressive stats, yet still seem unproven. In 5A Highland Park put up incredible numbers through three games, but they did it against relatively unknown or unproven opponents. We will learn a lot about the Scots soon as they face Atchison Friday. Also in 5A, the Hutchinson Salthawks are 5-0 despite heavy graduation losses. Will that continue? The same question could be asked about Wichita Classical, which nearly claimed the 1A Div I title last year. They graduated a ton of production, yet are 7-0 despite moving up to 2A. We will be watching these three teams very closely to see if they can keep up their hot starts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can Campus Join the Top 6A Teams?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was no question about senior [player_tooltip player_id='1270094' first='Andrell' last='Burton'] (pictured), one of the state's best players. There was also no question about guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2314754' first='Kaason' last='Thomas']</strong>, who has proved to be one of the better kept secrets in Wichita the past couple of years. But the Colts haven't been very competitive the past couple of years and they needed some other guys to step up. <strong>Drake McPherson</strong> is a handful in the paint and <strong>Jacob Webber</strong> has been creating and distributing, which frees up Thomas to hunt shots. <strong>Landon Brown</strong> has been productive too, making the starting five for the Colts balanced and versatile. Campus is off to a 3-1 start with a heartbreaking loss to Hutchinson its only blemish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Can Hesston Continue This Roll?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At first glance, it didn't look like the Swathers returned enough to think a 3A four-peat was a possibility. But a closer look reveals some experienced pieces of last year's team returned and are stepping up. They have a couple of versatile seniors in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2314796' first='Adrian' last='Hernandez']</strong> and <strong>Jackson Fry</strong> and a difference maker in the paint in 6-foot-6 junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2321590' first='Reed' last='Friesen']</strong>. Their 6-0 start is starting to make believers out of doubters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Is</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2169878' first='Diego' last='Esparza']'s <strong>Pace Sustainable?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are lots of good players doing impressive things so far this year, but what Esparza has done at Macksville has been the most eye-popping. He busted out of the gate with games of 45 and 44 points. He slowed down somewhat but is still averaging 29 points per game. That's a huge leap from the 11 he averaged as a sophomore. Can he continue to pump in big totals game after game? Macksville is off to a strong 5-2 start following its championship season, and Esparza leading the charge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->