Seniors to Celebrate from the Far West

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before we shift our focus to the 2025 Class Rankings, let's take one more look at the seniors from the farthest part of the state who deserve to be recognized in the 2024 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've spent a lot of time talking about the studs from Hugoton, with [player_tooltip player_id='1300809' first='Dasean' last='Lewis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1378448' first='Emmett' last='Gaskill'] getting quite a bit of attention, deservedly so. Here are five more players from the far west you should know as we look at the 2024 rankings:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#31 - [player_tooltip player_id='1953933' first='Joey' last='Dyck'], 6-foot-2 forward, 2024, South Gray:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We knew Dyck was good. But he raised his stock when he went crazy at the 2023 state tournament. He led the Rebels to a third-place finish in the 1A Div. I division by hitting 25-39 shots for 65 points over the three-game run. Can he improve upon his 19 points and 9 boards he posted as a junior? It will be worth watching to see what he does as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#49 – [player_tooltip player_id='1756348' first='Owen' last='Reece'], 6-foot-3 forward, 2024, Hodgeman County:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A leader of a 1A Div. I team to watch, Reece is a double-double machine. He was good for 19 points and 10 rebounds last year. Reece will be in the running for best big man in 1A as a senior. His Longhorns were stopped by Dyck's team at sub-state. Watch for some good battles between them again this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#66 – [player_tooltip player_id='1378446' first='Carson' last='Shimer'], 6-foot-3 center, 2024, Dighton:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Reece isn't the best big man in the 1A class this year, then maybe it will be Shimer. He battled injuries as a junior but showed a lot of the stuff that made him one of the state's best sophomores the previous season. As a sophomore he averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds. He's big and powerful and, judging by the way he's tearing up the football field as a senior, he's fully healthy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#70 – [player_tooltip player_id='1953946' first='Manny' last='Gonzalez'], 5-foot-9 guard, 2024, Goodland (pictured):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you haven't seen Gonzalez in action, it's hard to fathom just how disruptive a guy can be on the defensive end of the floor. He's an in-your-face nightmare and a ballhawk in the open court. He is quick, strong and tenacious. He distributes the ball to his talented teammates and is also a lights-out shooter when given the opportunity. Goodland will be a team to watch this year in large part to Gonzalez' work at the point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#79 – [player_tooltip player_id='1953947' first='Brock' last='Keith'], 5-foot-9 guard, 2024, Meade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keith is a stat-sheet stuffer from the guard spot, the leader of a really good team that just missed out on a trip to 2A state. He is an efficient and consistent guard who can shoot it and create his own shots. His stat line as a junior – 18.5 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.5 steals – was good enough for some all-state mentions. The Buffaloes return a lot and should have a big season with Keith at the helm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->