Mid-Season All-Stars Third Team:

Prep Hoops Staff

February 2, 2024 @ 06:53 AM

With the season more or less half over, we're naming the Prep Hoops Mid-Season All Stars.   We named [player_tooltip player_id='1270268' first='David' last='Cobin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270296' first='Mason' last='English'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270094' first='Andrell' last='Burton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270090' first='TJ' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1461338' first='Joey' last='Matteoni'] to the first team. For the second team, we went with [player_tooltip player_id='1378440' first='Micah' last='Deaver'], [player_tooltip player_id='1300838' first='Jacob' last='Fritz'], [player_tooltip player_id='1270287' first='Will' last='Thengvall'], [player_tooltip player_id='1588348' first='Keaton' last='Wagler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1270292' first='Bryce' last='Beisner'].   Those two teams had a decided big-school bent. For the third team, we made sure to mix in some smaller school guys. And in a couple of cases, we had to split the spot because there were too many deserving players to leave out.   Here are the Prep Hoops Mid-Season Third Team All-Stars:   G – [player_tooltip player_id='1962890' first='Brady' last='Hurla'], 5-foot-10 guard, 2025, St. Marys:   How are the Bears 9-1? How are they ranked 9th in 3A? It's hard to see how, after graduating some studs and looking to a new cast, they are playing so well. But Hurla has taken over leadership and exploded as a junior. He was a distributor and ball handler who took open threes but looked to others to score last year. Now everyone knows he is the Bears' top option, and yet they can't stop him. He's getting 24 points per game. And more importantly, he's helping the team get wins.   G – (tie) [player_tooltip player_id='2169878' first='Diego' last='Esparza'], 5-foot-8 guard, 2025, Macksville / [player_tooltip player_id='1588404' first='Will' last='Otott'], 6-foot guard, 2025, Marysville:   If you like scorers, these are your guys. We try not to put too much emphasis on stats, but we can't overlook the totals these two are racking up. Esparza got the headlines at the beginning of December by going over 40 in back-to-back games. He's kept a pretty torrid pace since them. Otott is equally impressive, producing 28 points and 8 rebounds for Marysville.   F - [player_tooltip player_id='1624974' first='Cooper' last='Carr'], 6-foot-2 guard, 2026, Baldwin:   We're going to go with Carr at this forward spot for his diverse contribution to Baldwin. He's the only sophomore we placed on the all-star teams, a testament to his production and leadership. He stepped into a big role after the Bulldogs graduated some leaders from last year's state team. How many guys out there are giving their teams 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists per outing? He has Baldwin in the 4A hunt, ranked at #9.   F – [player_tooltip player_id='2314773' first='Jeter' last='Purdy'], 6-foot-4 forward, 2024, Atchison:   The Phoenix blew up last year with Purdy playing a big support role. But I'm not sure we saw coming what the big football star is doing this year. He's a physical intimidator and rugged defender and rebounder. He's the big scorer for the #2 ranked Phoenix, a team that wants to make a deeper run this time around.   C – (tie) [player_tooltip player_id='1953942' first='Hudson' last='Baker'], 6-foot-8 center, 2024, Labette County (pictured) / [player_tooltip player_id='1588339' first='Amalachi' last='Wilkins'], 6-foot-7 center, 2025, Wichita Heights:   We've got opposite ends of the spectrum at this spot. Baker is putting up big numbers, but his team isn't winning. Wilkins, on the other hand, has some unassuming stats, but his team is ranked atop 6A. We decided to let them share the spot. Both guys are intimidators and shot blockers. Both run the floor like crazy and play above the rim.

With the season more or less half over, we're naming the Prep Hoops Mid-Season All Stars.