Northeast KS Bigs Who Impressed in Early February

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season is hot and heavy as we near the finish line. We got a chance to see some great games, in which some big men really stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some bigs from NE Kansas who really impressed:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffin Durst, 6-foot-4 forward, 2024, Washburn Rural:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Durst is a smooth forward who pops out to the three point line to give the Junior Blues another shooting threat. He handles the ball well, particularly catching in the midrange and getting to a jump shot. He defended well both in the post and against small, agile wings. When Rural struggled to get their offense going, they could go to Durst to make a play or draw a foul. This is a senior who hasn't received much attention, but has a fluid, versatile game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2403152' first='Dayne' last='Johnson'], 6-foot-2 forward, 2026, Silver Lake:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson has to play a lot in the paint for Eagles, who play a bunch of guys with similar size and skill sets. He's not deterred against a bigger post. He scores at a high rate around the basket, largely because he can get shots off from a variety of angles. He hits a surprising number of shots with his right hand without facing the basket – many of his releases coming with his left shoulder closest the basket. He elevates well for his jumper with an occasional fadeaway to create space. Johnson is tough as nails and ultra-competitive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason Jones, 6-foot-4 center, 2025, Rossville:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rossville is really putting things together, and it's largely due to Jones getting more comfortable at his new school. He's thin but plays with some strength and toughness in the paint. He scores a remarkable number of putbacks. He uses his length and jumping ability to grab rebounds over box outs. Jones has a very soft touch around the rim. With no seniors on the floor and a poor track record in recent years, the Bulldawgs took time to gain momentum. But with their combination of size and shooters, they could be a team to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1756342' first='Devin' last='Kerr'], 6-foot-4 forward, 2024, Piper:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've been watching Piper build momentum the past couple of years, and it's really coming together now. Kerr is the Pirates' leading threat in the paint and he has them in the thick of things in 5A. Kerr is one of the most fluid forwards around, moving with the kind of agility that makes him a standout receiver on the football field. He puts the ball on the floor and pushes it faster than most posts can go, and once he's in the paint he can elevate to dunk or trigger a jumper on the move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2393789' first='Larkin' last='Turner'], 6-foot-2 forward, 2025, Junction City:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Junkyard Dog” is a fitting description for Turner's game. This guy is relentless on the glass and just finds a way to produce. While a bit undersized in the post, he uses his long arms to gather in offensive rebounds and then he overpowers his opponents to get shots back up. As it seems every year, the Blue Jays have a stable of quick ball handlers who keep the tempo cranked up. Turner is a great fit as the big man to run with this fleet group of guards. He runs to fill a lane or chase down plays. He fires up his team and the crowd with his rugged and-ones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->