Looking Ahead: Top Returners to 5A

<p>It’s football playoff time! That means basketball season is about a month off. Basketball practices will be tipping off soon. So it’s time to start looking ahead to the season. Let’s start with a look at the top returners by class.</p> <p>Like 6A, graduation claimed nearly all of the all-staters from 5A. But a nice crop of players are ready to step in and grab those spots. Here are the top returners to 5A:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1075931" first="Jace" last="Linenberger"], 6-foot-6 center, 2022, Hays:</p> <p>Probably the top candidate for 5A Player of the Year, Linenberger led Hays to a great season last year, before it was cut short by the Topeka West Chargers. He was the dominant presence in most games and the team leader in points (16.2) and rebounds (7.5) per game. For that excellence, he was the only junior on the first or second team 5A last year. He bullied competition this summer, showing he’s ready for a memorable senior season.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="946254" first="Kyle" last="Grill"], 6-foot-6 guard, 2022, Maize:</p> <p>A huge guard who can handle the ball and is lights out from deep. What more can you ask for? The future Fort Hays State Tiger was third-team 5A last year and will be ready to repeat the state title run from last year. He averaged 11.3 points on a well-balanced team, and shot a ridiculous 50% from beyond the arc.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1080159" first="Will" last="Anciaux"], 6-foot-6 forward, 2023, Kapaun:</p> <p>Well, when you’re getting offers from just about every major football program there is, basketball might be an afterthought. But if Anciaux keeps applying himself on the court, he’ll be one of the best in the state again this year. He is long and athletic, with great coordination and body control for a big man. His ability in the mid-range and running the floor sets him apart from most his size.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="891913" first="Jaron" last="Briggs"], 6-foot-4 guard, 2022, KC Piper (pictured):</p> <p>Briggs may have been underappreciated on the high school scene so far. He’s a big guard who can handle it and score, and is powerful and athletic enough to create a mismatch mess for opponents. He guards just about everyone on the court, runs the floor and does the dirty work that summer club teams appreciate.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1076260" first="Elijah" last="Brooks"], 6-foot-4 guard, 2022, Topeka West:</p> <p>Brooks has been a star in the Capital City for three years already. He’s back for one more go at it, hoping to stay injury free this year. He missed too much action last year, but the Chargers were so loaded, they soldiered on without him. He appeared healthy this summer, and we all know what he can do when healthy. Look no further than the three games of 28 or more points he ran off last year.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1080176" first="Avery" last="Johnson"], 6-foot-2 guard, 2023, Maize:</p> <p>Grill’s running mate at Maize is sort of in the same situation as Anciaux. The star quarterback is being courted by a dizzying array of colleges. But if he stays focused on the court, he will be one of the best in the state again this year. You can’t do much better than he did last year: leading scorer on the 5A state champs.</p> <p>Other top returners in 5A:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1268856" first="Dylan" last="Blazer"], 6-foot-3 forward, 2023, Mill Valley</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="891910" first="Trevor" last="McBride"], 6-foot-2 guard, 2022, Basehor-Linwood</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="889508" first="Ty" last="Henry"], 6-foot-3 guard, 2022,Seaman</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="952447" first="Carson" last="Kieffer"], 6-foot-1 guard, 2022, Hays</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="946258" first="Jinwoo" last="Kim"], 6-foot-3 guard, 2022, Blue Valley Southwest</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1076400" first="Juan’Tario" last="Roberts"], 5-foot-10 guard, 2022, Highland Park</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1080165" first="Will" last="Rost"], 6-foot-3 guard, 2023, Aquinas</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="946269" first="Sam" last="Somerhalder"], 6-foot-7 forward, 2022, St. James</p>