25 BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH: NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS
 

KALEB BECKER, ABILENE

A 6-foot-4 senior, Becker was the leading scorer for the Cowboys a year ago, leading them to a 13-6 record. Becker earned first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors and was a third-team All-Class 4A selection after averaging 15.6 points and 7 rebounds per game last season. As a sophomore starter, Becker averaged 11 points and 8 rebounds per game and earned first-team all-league honors.
 

LANDON BOSS, OSAGE CITY

A three-sport standout who stars in football and track in addition to basketball, Boss already is establishing himself as one of the best athletes in school history. A starter since his freshman year in all three sports, Boss has been the Indians' leading scorer each of his first two seasons. Last year as a sophomore, he averaged 19.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in leading the Indians to a 16-4 record. A two-time first-team All-Flint Hills League selection, Boss was honorable mention All-Class 3A last season.
 

ELIJAH BROOKS, TOPEKA WEST

Despite battling a foot injury last season, Brooks was a key force in Topeka West's charge to a runner-up finish at the Class 5A state tournament. After averaging 17.2 points per game as a sophomore, Brooks saw his scoring production dip slightly last year as a junior, finishing at 15.4 points per game. But he led the Chargers in rebounding at 7.5 per game and also chipped in 2.6 assists per game as West captured its first Centennial League title. A two-time first-team All-Centennial League selection, Brooks got this season off to a huge start with 32 points in West's season-opening win over Washburn Rural.
 

JIM DORSEY, WELLSVILLE

On a team loaded with scorers a year ago, Dorsey stood out. He averaged 20 points per game while also grabbing 6.5 rebounds per contest. Dorsey earned first-team All-Pioneer League honors and was a third-team All-Class 3A selection.
 

RYAN FELDKAMP, JEFFERSON COUNTY NORTH

Feldkamp has been a contributor for the Chargers since his arrival in high school and steadily has improved his numbers each season. Last year as a junior, the 6-foot-4 Feldkamp averaged 16.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He was a first-team All-Northeast Kansas League selection for the second straight year and earned honorable mention All-Class 2A honors for the second straight year as well.
 

DAMIEN FOSTER, WAVERLY

A do-it-all player for Waverly who plays every position on the court, Foster enjoyed a solid 2020-21 season for the Bulldogs. He led Waverly in scoring at 14.7 points per game and also chipped in 3.1 steals, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. The 5-foot-9 senior was a second-team All-Lyon County League selection and was third-team All-Class 1A Division II.
 

JAKE FRITZ, WAMEGO

A 6-foot-3 senior combo guard-forward, Fritz ranked second on the Red Raiders a year ago in scoring, averaging 11.3 points per game in his first year as a starter. He also averaged 4.6 rebounds per game in earning first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors. Fritz opened this season with a double-double, scoring 10 points and adding 11 rebounds.

 

AVERY GATZEMEYER, VALLEY FALLS

A two-time first-team All-Northeast Kansas League selection, Gatzemeyer has averaged 14 points per game each of the last two seasons for the Dragons, who went 17-5 last season. A 6-foot-1 guard, Gatzemeyer has made more than 100 career 3-pointers and has a chance to hit the 1,000-point milestone this season. Gatzemeyer was an honorable mention All-Class 2A selection each of the past two seasons as well.
 

NOAH HASTERT, CAIR PARAVEL

As Cair Paravel made the transition to a KSHSAA Class 1A school, opponents quickly learned that the Lions had plenty of talent to be a contender with Hastert arguably the best of the bunch. Last year as a junior, Hastert averaged 15.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.7 blocks per game, showing all-around skills that made him a third-team All-Class 1A Division I selection.
 

MAKAEN HASTINGS, SOLOMON

Hastings burst onto the scene as a freshman during the 2019-20 season, averaging 14.6 points per game for the Gorillas. He not only avoided the sophomore slump a year ago, but upped his production. Hastings averaged 17.2 points per game and also chipped in 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per contest, also career-highs. The two-time first-team All-Wheat State League selection goes into his junior year as one of the top players in Class 1A Division I. 
 

TY HENRY, SEAMAN

After showing flashes in an injury-plagued sophomore season that saw him average 8.3 points per game in 14 games, Henry made a big leap into arguably the Vikings' best player last season. He nearly doubled his scoring to a team-high 13.8 points per game while also grabbing a team-high 5.4 rebounds per game. Henry shot 39% from 3-point range and 58% from the field overall, earning second-team All-Centennial League and honorable mention All-Class 5A honors.
 

DEREK HOELTING, OLPE

Hoelting played a key role in helping Olpe capture the first state basketball championship in program history last season as the Eagles upset Little River and South Gray to capture the Class 1A Division I championship. Hoelting ranked second on the team in scoring at 10 points per game, while also adding 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals per game. A starter on two straight Class 1A state football championship teams as well, Hoelting is primed for a big senior season after earning second-team All-Lyon County League honors last year.
 

KOEN HULA, COUNCIL GROVE

A starter since his freshman season, Hula -- son of Braves' coach Bruce Hula -- Hula has increased his scoring production each season, averaging 8.2 points per game as a freshman before jumping to 13.1 per game as a sophomore and 13.7 per game last year as a junior. The 6-foot-3 forward also has been a force on the boards throughout his career, averaging 7.4 rebounds per game as a freshman, 9.4 as a sophomore and 8.9 last year as a junior when he was a first-team All-Flint Hills League selection.
 

KELLER HURLA, ST. MARYS

In St. Marys' run and gun system, Hurla proved he's the Bears' top gunner a year ago as a sophomore when he hit 45% of his three-point shots, helping the Bears follow up their stunning 2019-20 postseason run to the Class 3A final four with another strong season last year. Hurla led St. Marys in scoring at 14 points per game and also added 2.5 rebounds per contest. He was a first-team All-Mid-East League selection and a third-team All-Class 3A pick.
 

HOWARD JOHNSON, JUNCTION CITY

The Centennial League newcomer of the year as a sophomore in 2019-20, Johnson earned all-league honors for the second straight season last year as a junior. The 6-foot-1 junior averaged 14.9 points per game, shooting 50.7% from the field and 32.5% from three-point range. Johnson is Junction City's leading returning scorer and one of the top players in the Centennial League.
 

EMMMITT JUENEMAN, HANOVER

Hanover was loaded with talent a year ago and it showed as the Wildcats' captured the Class 1A Division II state championship. Jueneman led the bunch, named the Division II player of the year while also being a consensus first-team All-Class 1A Division II selection. He averaged 18 points per game while also dishing out 4.7 assists a contest. Jueneman also added 3.3 steals per game and will be leaned on perhaps ever more this season after the Wildcats suffered big losses to graduation of last year's title team.
 

BRADY KLOTZ, ROYAL VALLEY

Klotz has had a major hand in Royal Valley enjoying one of the best stretches of success in program history the past three seasons, including the Panthers' first state berth in decades. After averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds per game as a sophomore, Klotz improved to 12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game as a junior. A three-time All-Big Seven League selection and was an honorable mention All-Class 3A pick last year. Klotz will be counted on even more in the scoring department this season with leading scorer Nahcs Wahwassuck gone.
 

TREVOR MCBRIDE, BASEHOR-LINWOOD

The son of Bobcat coach Michael McBride, Trevor is an extension of his father on the court running the Bobcats' high-powered scoring offense. Last season, he averaged 10.2 points per game, while also chipping in 4.4 assists, 2.7 steals and 2 rebounds per game. McBride has 224 career assists, while committing just 70 turnovers. He may be called upon to be an even bigger scoring threat this season with last year's leading scorer for Basehor, Jordan Brown, transferring to Free State.
 

BRAYDEN MESEKE, WABAUNSEE

Meseke helped lead Wabaunsee to one of the best seasons in school history as the Chargers finished runner-up at the Class 2A state tournament to Hillsboro. A two-time first-team All-Mid-East League selection, Meseke is a three-year starter for the Chargers and averaged 14.3 points per game last season to lead the Chargers in scoring. He added 4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game and is also a football standout who led Wabaunsee to its best season in decades this year, earning first-team All-Class 1A honors.
 

TOBY MILLER, LYNDON

On a balanced Lyndon team a year ago, Miller still put up solid numbers and earned honorable mention All-Flint Hills League honors as the Tigers claimed the league title and reached the Class 2A state tournament semifinals, falling to eventual champion Hillsboro. With the departure of leading scorers Miles Kitselman and Luke Detwiler, the 6-foot-3 Miller will be leaned on even more this year after averaging 11 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last year -- tops among returners. 
 

JERRIT NORRIS, TROY

Norris emerged as a dominating force for Troy last season as a sophomore, averaging 19 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He also chipped in 2.8 blocks per game and shot 60 percent from the floor. Norris earned third-team All-Class 1A honors to go along with first-team All-Twin Valley league honors. Coming off a huge football season where he was a first-team All-Class 1A selection, Norris is looking to lead Troy back to the state tournament this winter. 
 

JOE OTTING, HAYDEN

A bright spot in an otherwise tough season for Hayden last year, Otting enjoyed a big sophomore season for the Wildcats. He averaged 10.2 points per game while also ranking among the Topeka city leaders in rebounding at 6.6 per game. A high-level recruit in football with several Division I offers, Otting is a presence in the paint and has great hands and touch for a big man.
 

TREVER QUANEY, BURLINGAME

A starter from Day One at Burlingame, Quaney is one of the top post players in Class 1A and perhaps the state. The 6-foot-8 senior was a first-team All-Lyon County League selection last season when he averaged 16.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per contest. Quaney has 693 career points and 544 career rebounds and was a second-team All-Class 1A Division I selection last season. As a sophomore, Quaney averaged 11.6 points and 9 rebounds per game and was a second-team all-league selection.
 

JUAN'TARIO ROBERTS, HIGHLAND PARK

A prolific scorer for Highland Park throughout his career, Roberts was a second-team All-Centennial League pick last year after averaging 15.3 points per game for the Scots, ranking second on the team just behind departed forward CJ Powell (15.6 ppg). Roberts shot 36% from 3-point range and also led the Scots in assists at 3.6 per game. The 6-foot guard is the lone senior for the Scots this year and has led them to a 2-0 start, scoring 10 of his game-high 23 points in overtime in Tuesday's 60-51 win over Hayden.
 

DREW STUTESMAN, MADISON

One of Madison's top football players for the past four seasons, Stutesman has been a force on the basketball court as well. Last year, he was a unanimous first-team All-Lyon County League selection after averaging 11.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4 steals and 2.8 assists per game in leading the Bulldogs to a 17-6 record. Stutesman is a three-year starter and will be the core of this year's team after graduation claimed four starters off last year's team.