Small Private-School Forwards Making Waves

<p>Big private schools like Bishop Miege, Kapaun Mt. Carmel and Aquinas have asserted dominance in basketball at various times over the years. Getting less notoriety but still impressive is the number of top players making an impact at the small school level.</p> <p>A couple of the very best seniors in the smaller school ranks last year – [player_tooltip player_id="1188957" first="Jackson" last="Schulte"] of TMP and [player_tooltip player_id="1188954" first="Lucas" last="Hammeke"] of Hutchinson Trinity – were at private schools. And don’t forget [player_tooltip player_id="1188962" first="Chase" last="Wiebe"] of Berean Academy, Andre Ibarra of Central Christian and Zach Stucky of Elyria Christian. Each of them earned some all-state recognition.</p> <p>Here are a handful of small private-school forwards to watch next season (in alphabetical order):</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1139929" first="Zach" last="Clark"], 6-foot-3 forward, 2023, Cair Paravel:</p> <p>Clark was a big riser as a junior, jumping into the state rankings for his energizing work for CPLS. Clark averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds in helping the Lions make their first year in KSHSAA a memorable one. He can score in a variety of ways and brings athletic explosiveness to both ends. Clark earned honorable mention 1A Div. 1.</p> <p><strong>Alex Disberger</strong>, 6-foot-2 forward, 2023, Sacred Heart:</p> <p>A double-double machine at the 2A level, Disberger earned honorable mention as a junior. Disberger is an athletic and powerful guy who plays all over inside and out. He blocks shots, leads the break, shoots from the perimeter and posts up bigs. He averaged 13 points and 10 boards last year.</p> <p><strong>Walt Gray</strong>, 6-foot-1 forward, 2023, Hutchinson Trinity:</p> <p>Gray brings his rugged, workmanlike style to the court, just as he does the football field. He is tough in the lane and pounds the glass. But he can also step to the perimeter and knock down the long ball. He was honorable mention 2A as a junior.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1076408" first="Noah" last="Hastert"]</strong>, 6-foot-6 forward, 2023, Cair Paravel:</p> <p>Hastert really emerged on the scene last year. It wasn’t just that CPLS played KSHSAA opponents. Hastert lit up Hayden for 25 in a coming out party as a sophomore, then excelled with SSA Hoops Elite last summer. As a junior, Hastert exploded as a football prospect, then earned third team 1A Div. 1 on the basketball court.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1139917" first="Jevon" last="Hill"], 6-foot-8 forward, 2023, Wichita Trinity:</p> <p>The elite shooter who led Trinity to state last year is taking his talents to a developmental program in Texas. He’ll be sorely missed, because his game is developing to the point he might have been one of the top players in 3A this year. Hill will be one to keep an eye on, as he has the type of skills coveted at the next level.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1212164" first="Dylan" last="Werth"]</strong>, 6-foot-6 forward, 2024, TMP:</p> <p>Werth earned honorable mention in 3A and might make a big push for more next year. Now that [player_tooltip player_id="1188957" first="Jackson" last="Schulte"] is no longer in the program, Werth will be called upon to produce like he did at state, averaging exactly 20 points in three games.</p>