Reviewing the Top 2024s from Small Schools

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's no coincidence that some of the top ranked seniors are leading some of the top teams thus far in the season. Bennington, for instance, is led by a couple of top-15 seniors from the 2024 Class Rankings. #10 [player_tooltip player_id='1270299' first='Eli' last='Lawson'] and #14 [player_tooltip player_id='1633228' first='Savailio' last='Smith'] have the Bulldogs running at 6-1 and ranked fifth in 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some other Top 50 2024s providing leadership to teams experiencing success:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#17 - [player_tooltip player_id='1270271' first='Tanner' last='Heckel'], 6-foot guard, 2024, Lyndon:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a career this guy has already had. Football, basketball and track, he's one of the most decorated and accomplished athletes in the state. The one thing he doesn't have on his resume, however, is a basketball state title. The Tigers are absolutely loaded and rolling at 7-0. Heckel gives them an athlete who can totally disrupt a game on defense and create buckets in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#18 – [player_tooltip player_id='1270292' first='Bryce' last='Beisner'], 6-foot-5 forward, 2024, Beloit:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Undefeated and ranked at the top of 3A, Beloit is really peaking under the leadership of a great senior class that now includes a 6-foot-4 foreign exchange student named Emile Lechien. But it's Beisner's team. He is doing exactly what he's done for four years, which is battle in the paint, run the floor, dominate the glass and block shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#22 - [player_tooltip player_id='1461340' first='Will' last='Cravens'], 6-foot-3 guard, 2024, Ellsworth (pictured):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cravens has been a bit of a secret to the state up until this year. A great season as quarterback of the Bearcats elevated his profile. But he hasn't received all the notoriety a playmaking guard with his ability deserves. This season, the Ellsworth hoops team is off to a 7-1 start with their lone loss coming to Beisner and top-ranked Beloit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#32 - [player_tooltip player_id='1953933' first='Joey' last='Dyck'], 6-foot-2 forward, 2024, South Gray:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The South Gray train just keeps on rolling. Dyck rocketed into the public eye with his performance at state a year ago, and he's at it again. Though stats and media about the team is sparse, the results are obvious. The Rebels are 7-0 and have won nearly every game by more than 20 points. They are top-rated team in the higher of the 1A divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#42 - [player_tooltip player_id='1756349' first='Kenton' last='Thalheim'], 6-foot guard, 2024, Northern Valley:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thalheim isn't having to do it all for the Huskies. He's got some high quality seniors around him making the team go. They are 8-0 and sit atop the lower of the 1A divisions. Thalheim is hitting from deep, getting to the foul line and disrupting the opposition on defense. He's a stat-sheet stuffer and an experienced leader.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->