25 BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH: WESTERN KANSAS 

COOPER AUTRY, HOLCOMB

Autry, a 6-foot-4 senior, averaged 12.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists last year as a junior. He helped the Longhorns go 15-7 on the season and 9-3 in league play. Autry will be one of the senior leaders after Holcomb graduated Zephyn Mason and Josh See.  Autry was a second-team All-GWAC selection. The Longhorns are off to a 3-1 start this year with wins over Cimarron, Life Prep and Trinity Academy.  

 

JAXSON BRANDL, GREELEY COUNTY 

Brandl, a 6-1 junior, recently eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career. He averaged 19.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2 blocks a season ago, helping Greeley County go 13-9 on the season. Brandl was a first-team Class 1A Division II All-State pick by the KBCA last year. The Jackrabbits are off to a 4-0 start this year with wins over Stanton County, Eads (Colo.), Walsh (Colo) and McClave (Colo). 

 

BEN BUSSE, ST. FRANCIS 

The junior point guard is a three-year starter for the Indians. He was a second-team pick on the All-Northwest Kansas League team last year. The Indians had a strong season last year but were upset by Northern Valley in the sub-state. This year St. Francis has entered into a co-op agreement with Cheylin, moving the team up to Class 2A. St. Francis/Cheylin will look to bounce back from an 0-2 start to the season.  

 

 

TAYLOR CABLE, NESS CITY 

Cable put up a big-time junior season, averaging 20 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks to help the Eagles go 17-8 on the season. Cable sat out the football season in order to fully recover from surgery in the offseason. Cable was a first-team pick on the Class 1A Division I All-State by the KBCA last season. The Eagles are off to a 2-2 start. Cable put up 24 points in a 46-43 loss to WaKeeney-Trego this past Friday. 

 

ALEC CARLSON, PAWNEE HEIGHTS 

Carlson, a 6-foot-2 junior, helped lead Pawnee Heights to a state semifinal appearance and 14-10 record last year. He filled up the stat sheet with 22.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals per game last year. Carlson was a first-team Class 1A Division II All-State pick by KSHSAA last year as a sophomore. He had four 30-point games last year including a career-high 36 against Ingalls.  

 

SERGIO CHAVEZ, SOUTHWESTERN HEIGHTS  

Chavez helped the Mustangs finish above .500 last year with an 11-9 mark. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists last year as a junior. Chavez had six games with more than 20 points last season, including a career-high 31 points against Wichita County. He averaged 20.3 points over the first four games for the Mustangs (2-2). 

 
KYLAN CUNNINGHAM, LAKESIDE 

The 5-11 senior point guard will lead the Knights, who finished 8-5 last year. Cunningham was a first-team All-Northern Plains League selection. He averaged 14.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2.9 steals last year as a junior. Cunningham had a 24-point game against Sylvan-Lucas last season. He finished with 37 3-pointers on the season. The Knights are off 1-2 on the season. Cunningham scored 15 points in the season opener against Tescott. 

 

BRADY DEGES, SOUTH GRAY

Deges helped lead South Gray to a title-game appearance in Class 1A Division I. The Rebels fell 54-47 to Olpe in the final, finishing 24-1. Deges, a 5-10 senior, averaged 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3 assists last year as a junior. He was a second-team All-State selection in Class 1A Division II last year by the KBCA. The Rebels are off to a 4-0 start this season.  

ASHTON DOWELL, HOXIE 

Dowell helped the Indians go 24-1 last year. The Indians were upset by Wabaunsee in the Class 2A state semifinal. Dowell put up 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists last year as a junior, earning honorable mention All-Mid Continent League honors. The Indians, tasked with replacing All-State 7-footer Harlan Obioha, are off to a 2-2 start this season.  

 

BRITTON DUTTON, ELLINWOOD

After delivering a big-time sophomore season, Dutton is already making noise this season. He set Ellinwood's single-game record with 48 points this past Thursday against Lincoln. Dutton averaged 23.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists last season, helping the Eagles win the Central Prairie League championship and finsish with 18-5 overall record. He's already hit the 1,000-point mark for his career. Dutton is averaging 33.8 points during the Eagles' 4-0 start.  

JARET EITZMANN, BELOIT-ST.JOHN'S

Eitzmann was a first-team Northern Plains League selection last year, averaging 10.5 points and 5 rebounds. The Blujays reached the state tournament after pulling out a 32-29 win over Natoma in the sub-state final. They lost to eventual champion Hanover in the first round of state, finishing the season with a 12-8 mark. Eitzmann had two 20-point games last year, scoring 22 against Natoma and 24 against Wakefield. 

SERVANDO GONZALEZ, LAKIN

Gonzales helped the Broncos run the table in the Hi-Plains League with an 7-0 mark last year. Lakin went 21-2 overall, falling to Hugoton in the sub-state championship game. Gonzales averaged 11.5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals last season. He earned second-team all-league honors. He had 13 double-digit scoring performances last season, including a season-high 20-point game against Stanton County.  

NOLAN JUENEMANN, NORTON 

The 6-foot-7 senior is coming off a junior season in which he averaged 12.1 points and 6 rebounds. The Bluejays went 14-7 on the season. He was an honorable mention pick on the All-Mid Continent League team. Norton is off to a 2-2 start this season. Juenemann was named to the Topside Tipoff All-Tournament team.  
 

CARSON KIEFFER, HAYS 

Kieffer is a three-year starter at point guard for the Indians, who have gone 39-7 over the last two seasons. The Indians reached the Class 5A state tournament for the second straight season last year, dropping a heartbreaker to Topeka West in the quarterfinal. Kieffer averaged 10 points and 6.4 assists last year as a junior, helping the Indians win back-to-back Western Athletic Conference titles. Kieffer was a first-team All-WAC selection last year. 

RYAN KUCKELMAN, MACKSVILLE 

The 6-foot-6 junior is coming a sophomore season in which he averaged 12.7 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists. The Mustangs went 13-7 a year ago, falling to St. John in the first round of sub-state. Kuckelman was honorable mention All-State in Class 1A Division I last year by the KBCA. Kuckelman is averaging 13 points and 9.7 rebounds for the 4-0 Mustangs this season.  

 

JACE LINENBERGER, HAYS 

The 6-foot-6 post player was a force inside for the Indians last year, scoring 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds to help lead the Indians to a 22-1 season. He was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection and a second-team All-State pick in Class 5A by the KBCA. Linenberger scored in double figures in all but three games last year. He had a career-high 28 points against crosstown rival TMP-Marian early in the season.  

JOEY MYERS, TRIPLAINS/BREWSTER

Myers was a first-team Western Kansas League pick last year after averaging 11.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He was honorable mention on the KBCA All-State Class 1A Division II team. The 6-foot-1 senior will look to help the Titans improve on an 8-10 mark from a year ago.  

 

SCOTT PRICE, BUCKLIN  

Price was a second-team All-SPIAA selection last year after averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds. Bucklin went 12-10 a year ago, falling to eventual state champion South Gray in the sub-state semis. Price had three games with over 20 points last year, including two 25-point performances. He had 21 points in the Red Aces' season opener this year, going 9 of 14 from the field.  

 

CHARLIE RUSSELL, TREGO 

After a big junior season last year, Russell's senior campaign is already off to a tremendous start. The 6-foot-4 post player delivered a triple-double in the second game of the season against Northern Valley, recording 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Russell also had 28 points and 15 rebounds in a 46-43 win over Ness City. Russell averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game last year, earning first-team Mid-Continent League honors. The Golden Eagles are off to a 4-0 start and claimed their own Purple and Gold Invitational.  

 

COOPER SCHECK, DODGE CITY  

Scheck was a second-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection after scoring 9.3 points last year for the Red Demons, who finished 12-9 a year ago, an eight-win improvement from the year before. Scheck scored a career-high 24 points against Wray (Colo). in the Topside Tipoff Tournament championship game in Goodland, tying a school record with 8 3-pointers made. Scheck was named to the Topside All-Tournament team.  

 

BAILEY SIDES, NORTHERN VALLEY 

Sides helped the 14-10 Huskies make a run to the Class 1A Division II state semifinals before falling to eventual champion Hanover. The 6-foot senior averaged 12 points and 6 assists last year as a junior. He was a first-team pick on the All-Western Kansas Liberty team. Sides and the Huskies are out to a 3-1 start this season with wins over Wallace County, Victoria and Oakley and a loss to Trego.  

 

DYLAN VAN LAEYS, LOGAN/PALCO

The 6-foot-4 senior is looking to help Logan-Palco build off a 15-7 season a year ago. He averaged a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, earning first-team All-Western Kansas Liberty honors. The Trojans fell to Northern Valley in sub-state last year, splitting four games on the season with the Huskies. Logan-Palco is off to a 3-1 start this year. Van Laeys is averaging 15.5 points and 15 rebounds.  

 

JETT VINCENT, WHEATLAND-GRINNELL 

Vincent averaged 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds last year as a sophomore to help the Thunderhawks go 14-7 and reach the Class 1A Division II state tournament. Wheatland-Grinnell's run ended with a quarterfinal loss to Northern Valley. Vincent was a first-team Western Kansas Liberty League selection. He's also a standout football player, helping the Thunderhawks reach the Eight-Player Division II state championship game this past season. 

DYLAN WERTH, TMP-MARIAN 

Werth, a 6-foot-6 junior, was a second-team All-Mid Continent League pick a year ago. He helped the Monarchs go 21-5 and reach the Class 3A state tournament semifinals, where TMP fell to eventual champion Hesston. Werth averaged 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds as a sophomore. He missed the Hays City Shootout while still recovering from a foot injury he suffered in the preseason but made his season debut against Hill City this past Friday.  

GRADY WOLTERS, OSBORNE 

Wolters was a second-team Northern Plains League pick last year, helping the Bulldogs go 12-8. He put up 9.9 points last year as a junior. The Bulldogs fell to Stockton in the sub-state championship game to end last season. The Bulldogs are off to a 3-0 this season with wins over Southern Cloud (66-22), Lakeside (51-40) and Thunder Ridge (46-27).