Unsung Heroes from Big Schools

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some guys make the highlight plays and get the headlines. But they aren't necessarily the best players on the court. Sometimes it's somebody doing the dirty work who actually makes the difference between winning and losing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five guys from the 4A, 5A and 6A ranks who deserve to be recognized as heroes for their teams despite not getting a lot of recognition:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayce Glasper</strong>, 6-foot-2 guard, 2024, Wichita Northwest:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A physical monster who plays with speed, power and explosiveness, Glasper is the perfect complement to the slick guards on the Grizzlies roster. He plays way bigger than his 6-foot-2 frame. He can handle the ball and contribute points, but he's most important on defense and on the glass. He creates a lot of second opportunities and forces turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JC Heim</strong>, 6-foot-3 forward, 2024, Washburn Rural:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heim is about as tough as they come. He doesn't budge an inch on the block and really gets after the glass. He has impressive athleticism and knows how to make plays. He brings enough ball skills to be a threat offensively, but he makes his living making others miserable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ian McNabb</strong>, 6-foot-2 forward, 2024, Manhattan:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McNabb plays bigger than 6-foot-2. He's relentless and produces a ton of offense without being a number one option for the Indians. He guards taller posts and outworks them. Manhattan is a team that always seems to be there at the end of the season, so watch for this year's team to make a push. McNabb is a tough leader with a lot of experience and will to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Drake McPherson</strong>, 6-foot-3 forward, 2024, Campus:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A guy who has accepted his role, McPherson is a big part of the Colts' success this season. They hae a couple of guys who can really score, so McPherson is focused on being a third option, crashing the class and providing hustle and toughness. He's a long, athletic forward who can guard a variety of opponents. He is efficient offensively, scoring 57% of his shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2403183' first='Leo' last='Schoenberger']</strong>, 6-foot-3 forward, 2026, Baldwin:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of several talented sophomores on the Baldwin team, Schoenberger is providing what the team needs right now – defense, rebounding and toughness. He's active on the defensive end, getting his hands on a lot of balls and disrupting passing lanes. He is rebounding at a high rate, getting nearly 10 boards a game. Without getting any press, he's quietly playing a huge role in Baldwin's success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->