Small School Juniors in the Rankings
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A check of the lower half of the 2022 rankings reveals that a lot of small school players got recognized for great work as freshmen and sophomores. High scoring Alec Carlson Alec Carlson 6'1" | CG Pawnee Heights | 2023…
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Continue ReadingA check of the lower half of the 2022 rankings reveals that a lot of small school players got recognized for great work as freshmen and sophomores. High scoring Alec Carlson Alec Carlson 6'1" | CG Pawnee Heights | 2023 State KS and Jaxson Brandl Jaxson Brandl 6'2" | CG Greeley County | 2023 State KS , for example, are already all-state players in 1A.
While a big group of small school 2022s were added to the rankings recently, a look at the top of the list reveals a few guys who have earned recognition for their work not just in the high school ranks, but also on the summer club circuit.
Here are some of the top 2022 small school players who have established themselves against all levels of competition (1A-3A, in order of rank):
4 Eli Sawyers Eli Sawyers 6'7" | SF Southeast Of Saline | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-6 small forward, Southeast of Saline (pictured, in black):
After earning 3A honorable mention as a freshman, Sawyers earned a ton of respect on the club circuit last summer, playing with a couple of teams and in different age groups. He showed off versatility, ability to play inside and out, and a team-first, enthusiastic style. Then he came back with a 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds as a sophomore, taking on an even bigger role at Southeast of Saline. He continues to grow physically, and is working on his skills with a couple of club teams again this summer.
5 Tyler Little Tyler Little 6'5" | PF Galena | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-6 power forward, Galena:
Little was a huge reason Galena drove clear to the 3A state finals before getting knocked off by Hesston. After getting 12 points in the state quarterfinals against Wellsville, and 16 points in the semis against Rock Creek, Little pulled down a game-high10 rebounds in the loss to Hesston. He earned honorable mention 3A as a sophomore, and will continue to rise in the small school ranks. He’s producing consistently for 816 Varsity this summer.
17 Britton Dutton Britton Dutton 6'0" | SG Argo Comm | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-1 shooting guard, Ellinwood:
One of the most prolific scorers on the small school level, Dutton is translating his game to high-level competition, playing up a year with the ultra-athletic Midwest Magic Elite 17U. There’s no question his ability to produce at Ellinwood, where he rolled up 23.3 points and 4.8 assists as a sophomore. Dutton has a midrange jumper that he gets off on the move in very direction, and he pushes the ball through traffic to create opportunities for himself and others.
26 Brekyn Ratzlaff Brekyn Ratzlaff 6'0" | PG Hillsboro | 2023 State KS , 6-foot point guard, Hillsboro:
One of the most polished and exciting point men at any level, Ratzlaff really challenges himself during the summer by working with the super competitive Oz Elite 2023. Ratzlaff single-handedly put Hillsboro in position to take the 2A state title by scoring 10 points in the first quarter of the championship game. After earning honorable mention 2A as a freshman, he deservedly jumped to the first team as a sophomore.
35 Keller Hurla Keller Hurla 6'0" | CG St. Marys | 2023 State KS , 6-foot combo guard, St. Marys:
Hurla earned third-team 3A honors, the highest recognition given to any 2023 in the 3A class. He earns a ton of respect for his leadership of the deep and talented Bears team. Hurla also opens eyes for his work with SSA Hoops Elite, playing up a grade during the summer.
37 Makaen Hastings Makaen Hastings 5'11" | PG Salina South | 2023 KS , 5-foot-9 point guard, Solomon:
Hastings is a tough, powerful driver who can get by a defender and break down a defense on the dribble. He scores a lot for Solomon – 17 points per game as a sophomore – but he’s showing with a talented SSA Hoops Elite club that he can get the ball to shooters and create opportunities for others. He’s got quick hands and an aggressive approach at the defensive end, where he averaged 3 steals a game for Solomon last season.