5 Rising 3A Prospects to Watch this Summer

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summer basketball is a time for players to work on their game and, for those working in that direction, to show their stuff in front of college coaches and scouts. Some clubs jumped feet first into competition immediately following the conclusion of state basketball championships. Others really started rolling earlier this month. When June arrives players will get valuable time to train and compete while club teams while clubs take a back seat. Team camps and the terrific <a href="https://mayb.com/">MAYB</a>&nbsp;1A/2A, 3A/4A and 5A/6A tournaments are great opportunities to see emerging talents. Here is a look at five from the class 3A ranks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1213557"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6831e2a305057"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I expect big thing from Coester in her senior season, particularly since her back-to-back 3A state tournament appearances have come up short. Over the past year Coester turned into a solid, inside-outside scoring threat. Add that to her solid size and speed, ability to help bring the ball up against full court pressure, strong rebounding ability on both ends and you have a recipe for a top tier post in 3A. Her growth gained her SIK first team and KSHSAA honorable mention honors. She also moved up from honorable mention in 2024 to second team CNC League honors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1105537"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6831e2a305102"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After watching Randall-Hurt via livestream in a early December 2024 contest I wrote that she "...is a big that is going to make a great deal of noise." That she did, earning KSHSAA and SIK 3A honorable mention as well as first team North Central Activities Association. Her good size and length are obvious but her north-south speed with the ball, finishing ability in a variety of situations and perimeter shooting are another. If she continues to improve defensively, including with her lateral quickness, she will develop into one of the top power forwards in the classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["884873"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6831e2a30518a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I have watched Schroeder's game grow substantially over the last two years. Her lateral quickness caught up with her speed this season, which turned out to be a breakout season. When her sister, and Dragons leading scorer, Piper went down with an injury late in the season she picked her game up a couple notches - helping Halstead win the 3A state title. An aggressive scorer and rebounder and an agitating half court defender Schroeder not only walked away with Central Kansas League honorable mention honors but also gained state level recognition. KBCA, KSHSAA and SIK all tabbed her for 3A honorable mention honors. Halstead has nearly everybody back to defend their title and Schroeder will play a big role in the effort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["836278"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6831e2a30520e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In a 3A classification filled with great point guards Splechter not only continues to show she is in that number but is rising to be among the best of the best. Her strong handles, perimeter shooting, quickness and speed, motor and fierceness are a given but what she showed at the recent PGH Kansas City Clash really impressed me. She is a leader. She can direct traffic but her game spoke for itself. Splechter fed teammates the ball at the right time and made consistently strong decisions on what to do with the ball and when to take the shot herself. This past season she picked up first team Pioneer League (HM in 2024) and KSHSAA and SIK 3A honorable mention selections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["827723"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6831e2a305291"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For three years now I have watched Wilmeth and from the first time I saw her I thought she could ball. It has taken time for others to figure it out but finally she picked up Central Plains League second team (HM in 2024) and KSHSAA and SIK 3A honorable mention selections. Catching her at the 2025 Newton Invitational I noted how her head was on a swivel in transition handling, her strong handles and her ability to set defenders up to make the play she wanted. Wilmeth has good footwork, a quick trigger off the catch, speed with ball and she is very active on both ends of the floor. With running mate [player_tooltip player_id='688279' first='Makenna' last='Balzer'] off to play at Tabor College next season I will be watching Wilmeth's leadership as the Knights navigate a strong league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->