Scorers to Watch at State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scorers aren't always the best, or most important, player on the team. But somebody has to put the ball in the basket in order to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The following are some guys who can you points, and they'll be featured on the state tournament stage this week:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1270296' first='Mason' last='English'], 6-foot-2 guard, 2024, Pittsburg – 5A (pictured):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>English might just be the top perimeter scorer in the state. He averaged 30 points per game this season, and not a lot of those came on shots around the bucket. He is a sniper with range for days. Pittsburg didn't face a lot of ranked teams during the season, and they'll have their hands full with Hutchinson out of the gate. But English is a fun player to watch because he is an elite shooter who is never afraid to pull the trigger.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1461341' first='Logan' last='Sullivan'], 6-foot-3 guard, 2024, Eudora – 4A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If English is a natural shooter, then Sullivan is a natural scorer. He's not just launching it from deep. He moves without the ball, always working to find an opening to catch and create. Once the ball is in his hands, he quickly gets off jumpers or sets up defenders for the drive. Once on the move, he can get it off from an array of angles. Sullivan averaged 19 points this season, despite creative efforts by opponents to take him out of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1080169' first='Aidan' last='Wing'], 6-foot-4 forward, 2023, Miege – 4A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This guy has all the facets of a top scorer. He can catch and shoot with range, he can move in and out of the paint for midrange opportunities, he has the length and power to score in the post, and he runs the floor bent on getting transition buckets. He gets a decent number of offensive rebounds, which lead to put backs. And perhaps best of all, he draws a lot of fouls. He attempted at least five free throws 13 times on the season. Three times, he got double-digit number of attempts. Wing averaged 20 points this season and was really consistent in his output.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1080917' first='Kamryn' last='Kaniper'], 6-foot-4 forward, 2023, Perry-Lecompton – 3A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perry-Lecompton sort of flew under the radar for a lot of the season. But you knew when Kaniper transferred from Silver Lake over the summer that his addition would make the Kaws a tough out come playoff time. He is a team player who doesn't just hoist up shots, but he is a rim runner who goes with abandon. He averaged 18 points per game this season as an effective scorer at all three levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1146270' first='Keller' last='Hurla'], 6-foot guard, 2023, St. Marys – 2A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For three years now, Hurla has been one of the most prolific scorers at the small school level. He averaged 27 points as a senior, getting most of it with smart efficiency. He is always shot-ready, and he gets it off quickly and with conviction. Somewhat similar to Sullivan, he has to move constantly to bust defenses geared to stop him. He has the sneaky athleticism and toughness that made him a Washburn football commit. He can create and finish around the goal, and he draws a lot of fouls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1080198' first='Jaxson' last='Brandl'], 6-foot-2 guard, 2023, Greeley County – 1A Div. II:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without question the top player in the 1A ranks, Brandl put together a tournament for the ages a year ago. He scored 76 points in leading Greeley County to the title. He didn't let up as a senior, averaging 26 points per game. He gets it done in every way, including turning defense into offense. He gets a lot of buckets off steals. But he also can move without the ball and catch and shoot, put it on the floor to get to a shot, or bring it up the floor to create his own opportunity. As a big guard at the small school level, he can score off rebounds or post up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->