Preview: Kansas State Tournament: 5A Star Power
The 5A state tournament is set to tipoff in Emporia this Thursday with lots of star power to go around. Let’s take a look at some of the top names that will be featured in this year’s state tourney. Maize…
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Continue ReadingThe 5A state tournament is set to tipoff in Emporia this Thursday with lots of star power to go around. Let’s take a look at some of the top names that will be featured in this year’s state tourney.
Maize v. St. James Academy- Thursday @ 3:00pm
Maize is having a historic year rolling into this matchup without a single loss on the season.
Practically unheard of.
Caleb Grill (2019 South Dakota State Commit), is the focal point of this team and is a force to be reckoned with offensively. Finishes above the rim, high level quickness, and a sweet, sweet stroke.
While he doesn’t do it alone, Caleb keeps the game within reach at all times and has been a great senior leader for this Maize team this year.
St. James caught fire at the right time earning a berth to the state tournament despite just a 14-8 record overall. Jack Moellers (2020) will be the one to stop if you’re Maize.
When Jack gets hot, he can rack up the points in a hurry as he features some serious range on his jumper. He is going to have to play exceptionally well for St. James to pull off the upset.
Andover Central v. Pittsburg- Thursday @ 4:45pm
Xavier Bell (2020) will headline the Andover Central team as an explosive guard who has really improved his shooting ability over the past year, making him even more dangerous.
He has good size for a guard, gets to the line frequently with his quickness, and has also shown some versatility with a mid-post game if he is guarded by a smaller guard.
Xavier currently holds NCAA Division I offers from SEMO and Denver.
On the other side of the court stands a man just as dangerous and a year younger in Gavyn Elkamil (2021).
The poised 6’4’’ guard for Pittsburg has a good basketball frame, can shoot the ball off the dribble or on the catch, and has a good floater/layup package when he’s near the basket.
Gavyn currently holds NCAA Division I offers from UMKC, SEMO, and Southern Miss.
Bonner Springs v. Bishop Carroll- Thursday @ 6:30pm
The Emporia State University commit, Keyon Thomas, was bound and determined to will his team to the state tournament that he even ceased social media usage to focus in on the task at hand.
The 5’11’’ PG has been a bigtime scorer this season, averaging over 20 PPG and serving as a formidable leader for the Bonner Springs squad. Keyon is a great teammate and a good floor general, leading Bonner Springs to a 20 win season.
After somewhat of a hot and cold season, similar to last year, Bishop Carroll is catching fire at the right time to make a run for state. The defending 5A champs are looking to take the field by storm yet again for back to back wins.
What makes Bishop Carroll so great is that they can beat with you in a number of ways. One of the main ways they can do that is with the outside shooting of Carson Pracht.
The young man is not afraid to let it fly and can get hot in a hurry. The 6’0’’ guard also enjoys getting his teammates involved and setting them up for success as well. The senior guard will be one to watch this upcoming week!
Basehor-Linwood v. Salina Central- Thursday @ 3:00pm
Basehor-Linwood is led by their senior wing, Jacob Coleman.
The 6’5’’ Pitt State commit is a good all-around player who is comfortable with the ball in his hands and scoring or creating opportunities has a good basketball IQ to accompany his skill level.
Salina Central also has a standout senior in Harper Williams. Harper recorded a triple-double in a game recently, showing his versatility and upside as a prospect.
He is able to make the right read in situations but also offensively shoot the ball well from beyond the arc.