Western Kansas 2022s Standing Out

<p>Summer gives Western Kansas players an opportunity to match up with those they don’t get a chance to see during the high school season.</p> <p>Here are a few players from the farthest western part of the state who are showing what they can do against elite competition (in alphabetical order):</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="946251" first="Jaden" last="Boone"] 6-foot-3 forward, 2022, Quinter, Team Buddy Buckets Kansas:</p> <p>Boone is a solidly-built and powerful player who is also smooth and athletic enough to move out of the lane and make plays. He runs well and moves on the perimeter, and can handle the ball well enough to push it up-tempo. He’s well established, having earned second-team 1A Div. 1 as a junior. He averaged 18.9 points per game last season.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1139927" first="Servando" last="Gonzalez"], 5-foot-10 guard, 2022, Lakin, Western Kansas Elite:</p> <p>Gonzalez brings a lot to the table for Lakin, one of the top 3A programs in the state, where he earned honorable mention last year. He can pop from distance, but is equally willing to drive into the lane to create shots or kick the ball out. He’s athletic, aggressive and tough, which stands out in the high-intensity battles with Western Kansas Elite.</p> <p><strong>Carter Gooden</strong>, 6-foot-3 forward, 2022, Scott City, Western Kansas Elite:</p> <p>Gooden hasn’t made a lot of headlines in the high school game yet, but he’s really standing out this summer. He’s a big-bodied multi-sport athlete who moves well and plays with power in the lane. He shoots a jump hook over big defenders, draws fouls, and has a soft touch in the midrange and from the lane. He is a powerful rebounding machine.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1139933" first="Allen" last="Martinez"], 6-foot guard, 2022, Lakin, Western Kansas Elite:</p> <p>Despite the graduation of all-stater [player_tooltip player_id="1070214" first="Hunter" last="Davis"], Martinez teams with Gonzalez to give Lakin a top-flight guard tandem. Martinez is an in-your-face defender who always has his hands on the ball. Offensively, he’s an attacking, up-tempo ball handler who makes plays for himself and his teammates. His good size and physicality make him a force on the boards.</p> <p><strong>Dawson Taylor</strong>, 5-foot-11 guard, 2022, Dodge City, Western Kansas Elite:</p> <p>A multi-sport athlete for Dodge City, Taylor always has his hands on the ball on defense, and pushes it aggressively on offense. He’s been a solid contributor for Dodge City, and he’s capable of making plays at both ends for Western Kansas Elite.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1162514" first="Luke" last="Tolbert"], 5-foot-11 guard, 2022, Garden City, Team Buddy Buckets Kansas (pictured):</p> <p>Tolbert is a gritty guard who scores on runouts off turnovers, drives into the lane, and pulls the trigger from deep. His speed and athleticism leads to opportunities in transition. Tolbert has a lot of experience at a high level at Garden City, and it shows when he faces top competition at club events.</p>