15 CLASS 4A BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2023-24
 

KAIDEN ABASOLO, MULVANE
 
The Wildcats’ offensive production was sometimes limited in a 7-14 season, but Abasolo still averaged 17.9 points and 7 rebounds in 15 games to earn All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team honors. The senior made six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 33 points in a victory over Winfield, and averaged 24 points in three games to help Mulvane finish third in Chaparral’s Roadrunner Classic. He enters his final season with 644 career points. 
 

HUDSON BAKER, LABETTE COUNTY

 
Baker returns for his senior season following all-state honorable mention and All-SEK second-team honors a year ago. The 6-foot-8 center averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game for the Grizzlies. Labette County finished the season with a 9-12 record, reaching the sub-state final before losing to Bishop Miege.
 

COLEY BURGESS, ROCK CREEK
 
Burgess moved into a starting role for Rock Creek a year ago and was the Mustangs’ leading scorer as a sophomore, netting 11 points per game. He added 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game as well and was a marksman behind the 3-point line where he already ranks top five in 3-pointers made for the Mustangs. Burgess was a second-team All-Mid-East League selection and honorable mention All-Class 4A pick.
 

CARTER BURNETT, WELLINGTON
 
Coming off a big season at wide receiver for Wellington’s 8-3 football team, Burnett will try to help the Crusaders follow up their run to last season’s Class 4A state tournament with another successful campaign. Burnett, Wellington’s lone returning starter, scored a team-high 16 points in a 65-41 sub-state final victory over Circle after the Thunderbirds defeated Wellington twice during the regular season. He also helped the Crusaders defeat Wichita Collegiate for the first time in 25 meetings. Burnett was selected to the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV first team.

 

LOGAN GARNER, EL DORADO
 
Injuries took a toll on El Dorado in a 3-win season last winter, but Garner, a 6-foot point guard, regularly produced. Now a senior, he averaged 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals for the Wildcats to earn All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV second-team honors along with All-4A honorable mention. Garner’s leadership will be vital with several players in new roles, and coach Drew Culbertson wanting his team to play faster and more efficiently.

 

JOEY HENDERSON, CONCORDIA
 
Henderson came into his own last year, averaging 10.5 points per game for the Panthers while also leading them in assists at 3.6 per game. He also chipped in 3.6 rebounds per game and earned first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors as well as being an honorable mention All-Class 3A pick. Concordia moves back up to Class 4A this season and Henderson will be a key to having success at that level.
 

CALEB HEPNER, OTTAWA

 
Hepner earned All-Frontier League second-team honors as a sophomore last season. The 5-foot-9 guard averaged 11.3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game for the Cyclones. Ottawa finished the season with a 10-11 record, losing to Wamego in the opening round of sub-state.
 

XIOMAR HERNANDEZ, ATCHISON

 
Hernandez returns for his senior season following all-state and All-Frontier League honorable mention selections a year ago. The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 17.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.4 steals for the Phoenix last season. Atchison finished with a 19-4 record. The team reached state before losing to Bishop Miege in the opening round.
 

DASEAN LEWIS, HUGOTON

After excelling in a supporting role on last year’s Class 4A state championship squad, Lewis will be a leader for the Eagles after the graduation of leading scorers Carson Bennett and Ryle Riddlesperger. The 5-foot-10 senior is Hugoton’s top returning scorer, averaging 9 points and 2.8 assists as a junior. Lewis was a second-team pick on the All-Great West Activities Conference team and received honorable mention on KSHSAA Covered’s All-4A team. Hugoton ended on a 22-game winning streak last year, beating McPherson 67-58 in the 4A championship game. 

 

COLE PLADSON, CLAY CENTER
 
An Oklahoma State commit for baseball as just a junior, Pladson is a three-sport standout who led Clay Center to the Class 3A football quarterfinals in the fall after helping the Tiger baseball team to a Class 4A state berth last spring. Last winter, he averaged a team-high 14 points per game as a sophomore for the Tigers, while also grabbing 5 rebounds per game and getting 2 assists and 2 steals a contest. He was a first-team All-North Central Kansas League selection and was honorable mention All-Class 4A after leading the Tigers to the Class 4A state tournament despite having an overall sub-.500 record.
 

JACKSON RUMFORD, SCOTT CITY

The 6-foot-5 center was a force inside last year as a sophomore, putting up 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. He posted six doubles-doubles and had a season-high 27 points against Sterling. Rumford earned first-team All-Great West Activities Conference honors last year was honorable mention All-4A by KSHSAA Covered. The Beavers went 9-12 last year.

 

KAIDEN SEAMSTER, CHANUTE

Seamster returns for his senior season after being named a unanimous All-SEK first team selection last year. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Chanute finished the year 14-7, losing in the opening round of sub-state against Labette County.
 

LOGAN SULLIVAN, EUDORA

 
Sullivan returns for his senior season following his all-state second-team and All-Frontier League first-team honors a year ago. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 17 points and 3 rebounds per game last season. Eudora finished fourth in Class 4A last year with a 19-5 record. The Cardinals beat Baldwin in the opening round of state before losing to eventual state champion Hugoton in the state semifinals.
 

KYDEN THOMPSON, MCPHERSON
 
The 6-foot-2 Thompson helped McPherson make its familiar pilgrimage last March to the Class 4A state tournament, where they fell to Hugoton in the championship game. The lanky, versatile guard was the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division III player of the year, averaging 12.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.3 steals. He’s one of four returning starters, and possesses the ability to facilitate for a well-balanced squad or score via the jumper or drive to the basket.

 

LANDON WHEAT, PARSONS

Wheat returns for his senior season after earning All-SEK second-team honors a year ago. The 6-foot-3 forward averaged 10.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last season. Parsons finished with an 11-10 record, losing to Hayden in the opening round of sub-state.