Malik Hluchoweckyj of Bellevue West is the top player in the state heading into the 2014-15 basketball season.
Photo by Rod Adams
As the Nebraska prep basketball season prepares to roll into its second weekend of action, there is apparent plenty of boys basketball talent resides in gymnasiums throughout the Big Red State.
Beginning with Bellevue West's Malik Hluchoweckyj, Omaha North's Justin Patton and Norfolk's Tyler Hagedorn and moving down the line through the top players in Nebraska's small schools, there is no doubt that Cornhusker State basketball fans will have plenty to cheer about this winter.
In addition to taking a look at the top basketball talent that will soon be moving on to the next level, we will examine some of the great stat lines posted a year ago. The Omaha World Herald, the Lincoln Journal Star and, of course, MaxPreps' stat leader pages from the 2013-14 basketball season were referenced in gathering some of the information in this story.
Now, let's take a shot at ranking the top boys basketball talent in Nebraska.
Nebraska's Top 10 High School Basketball Players
1. Malik Hluchoweckyj, Bellevue West 6-0 Sr. PG/SGHluchoweckyj is a terrific athlete who has chosen basketball over football and track and field for college, and has signed with Bowling Green. The only returning first team Super-State selection from a year ago, who, of course, was chosen to the first team Class A all-state team. He averaged 15 points and four rebounds a game while leading the Thunderbirds, who finished the season with a 21-6 record, to a Nebraska big school state championship a year ago. Hluchoweckyj earned a spot on the Class A all-tournament team following his performance at the state tournament.
2. Justin Patton, Omaha North (Omaha, Neb.) 6-11 Sr. PPatton, who has signed to play at Creighton University, is a big guy with guard skills. It's been a while since the Vikings have competed in a state tournament. Just a year ago Omaha North finished 8-15, but having Patton back will help the Vikings turn their record around. He averaged 11.8 points, 7.9 boards and 2.5 blocked shots a year ago.
3. Tyler Hagedorn, Norfolk 6-9 Sr. FHagedorn has the skill to play multiple positions. Before signing with South Dakota, Hagedorn had offers from Omaha, Lehigh and Denver. A second team Class A all-state selection a year ago, that was tabbed to the third team All-Nebraska squad, Hagedorn averaged 16.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks a year ago in helping the Panthers to a 21-7 mark.
4. Aguek Arop, Omaha South 6-4 Jr. SFAlthough Arop suffered a knee injury in a 54-45 win over Omaha Central this season, and will miss most of if not all of the rest of the 2014-15 season, the Nebraska commit is still being rewarded a spot in the Top 5 — simply because it's hard to imagine a Nebraska Top 10 players list without him. Although he is committed to Nebraska, the guard will still get plenty of offers from major D-I programs.
5. Grant Lahm, Scotus (Columbus) 6-1 Sr. GLahm joined Hagedorn on the third team All-Nebraska squad a year ago and played his way onto the first team Class C1 all-state team after guiding the Shamrocks to a third place finish at last year's Class C1 state tournament, and helped the Shamrocks to a 23-5 record. Lahm, a member of last year's Class C1 all tournament team at the state tournament, is a fine ball-handler and shooter. Lahm averaged 19.8 points per contest a year ago.
6. Adam Dykman, Archbishop Bergan (Fremont) 6-8 Sr. FThe first team Class C2 all-state selection from a year ago is set to continue his playing career at the Air Force Academy next year. Dykman is go-go-go on a basketball court. He guided the Knights to the Class C2 state championship in 2013-14 and was named to the Class C2 all-tournament team at the state tournament because of his play during the three-day run. Bergan finished the year 24-3. Dykman put up 16.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots a game in 2013-14.
7. Triston Simpson, North Star (Lincoln) 6-0 Jr. GThe junior guard has terrific basketball smarts and instincts. He loves to drive into the lane and either score or go to the foul line. Simpson is getting some D-I interest after scoring 13 points a game as a sophomore, while guiding the Navigators to a 15-9 finish.
8. Tyler Dougherty, Papillion-LaVista (Papillion) 6-6 Sr. FDougherty will continue playing basketball at Northwest Missouri State next season, but first hopes to help guide the Monarchs to the Nebraska state basketball tournament. A fine rebounder who loves contact, Dougherty is set on helping the Monarchs improve on their 10-15 mark from a year ago.
9. Wills Wallrapp, Skutt Catholic (Omaha) 6-4 Sr. SGWallrapp knows the game of basketball like the back of his hand and can knock down the 3-pointer. He was named to the Class B all-tournament team after helping Omaha Skutt Catholic capture a state title last March. Wallrapp played well enough to be placed on the first team Class B all-state squad after helping the state champs to a 22-6 record.
(TIE) 10. Johnny Trueblood, Elkhorn South 6-3 Sr. SG/SFTrueblood is a returning Class B first team all-state selection after guiding Elkhorn South to a third place finish at the state tournament last March, and an impressive 26-1 mark after completing the regular season unbeaten. He can score from anywhere on the floor and might be considered a binge scorer. Trueblood averaged 15.4 points, 3.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 0.3 deflections a year ago.
(TIE) 10. Drew Homa, Creighton Prep (Omaha) 6-6 Sr. SGWith Arop garnering the No. 4 spot, we decided to add an 11th spot just so we could have 10 active players ranked. Homa is a big guard that because of his size is capable of playing multiple positions. After missing the state tournament last year, Homa and his Junior Jay teammates are aiming for a shot to stretch their postseason run into March this season. Along the way Creighton Prep should improve on their 14-10 mark of a year ago.
Others considered: Ben Hoskins, Wayne;
Bart Hiscock, Bennington;
Logan Strom, Norfolk;
C.J. Johnson, Bellevue West;
Ben Kositzke, Millard West;
Andy Kerkman, Clearwater-Orchard;
Isaac Frerichs, Freeman;
Alec Cromer, Beatrice;
Vance Janssen, Blair;
Youhanna Ghaifan, Grand Island Central Catholic;
James Kaiser, Hartington Cedar Catholic.
Top stat lines from a year ago (returning players)Andy Kerkman, Clearwater-Orchard 6-7 Jr. P
15.8 points, 3.9 assists, 13.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 4.1 blocks
Noah Vasa,
Lourdes Central Catholic (Nebraska City) 6-8 Sr. F
12.9 points, 0.9 assists, 9.8 rebounds, 0.6 steals, 4.5 blocks
Cole Klingsporn,
High Plains (Polk) 5-10 Sr. PG/SG
12.7 points, 5.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 steals, 0.1 blocks
Troy Gilligan,
Anselmo-Merna (Merna) 5-10 Jr. PG
11.3 points, 3.9 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 steals, 0.5 blocks
Tanner Borchardt,
Gothenburg 6-9 Sr. P
17.3 points, 1.1 assists, 12.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 2.4 blocks
Seyler Monroe,
Silver Lake (Roseland) 6-1 Sr.
13.0 points, 1.3 assists, 8.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 2.5 blocks
Matthew Wood,
Hemingford 6-2 Sr. G
18.1 points, 3.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 0.7 blocks
Hunter Quinn,
Southern Valley (Oxford) 6-3 Sr. SF
16.5 points, 2.6 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 2.3 blocks
Justin Patton, Omaha North 6-11 Sr. P
11.8 points, 1.4 assists, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 2.5 blocks
Yovan Perez,
Minatare 5-8 Jr. G
11.5 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 2.2 steals
Jordan Heinrichs,
Heartland (Henderson) 5-9 Sr. G
11.3 points, 3.3 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 3.1 steals
Steven LaPointe,
Niobrara/Verdigre (Niobrara) 5-10 Sr. PG
10.5 points, 4.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 0.2 blocks
Jake Brand,
Homer 6-8 Sr. P
9.9 points, 1.1 assists, 7.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 2.3 blocks
