Despite the departure of dynamic scorer K’dyn Waters, who is currently playing basketball at NorthArk College, Neosho boys basketball has high hopes for improving upon its 17-11 record from a year ago in the upcoming 2022-23 season.
The reason for those hopes? A seven-man senior class with a bevy of varsity experience.
“We are very excited, especially coming off a year where we had the most wins in the program
since 2005 and are bringing back seven seniors,” said Neosho coach Zane Culp, who is in his fourth year at the helm of the program. “The guys are out to prove last year was just a
stepping stone to an even better season this year.
“I believe we should be able to put ourselves in position to win most games. I think if we do that, our experience will help us pull out some wins. Our boys will go out with the intention to win
every game.”
The returning senior class is led by 6-foot-1 G/F Isaiah Green, who averaged 9.6 points, seven rebounds, four assists and 2.6 steals per game last year.
“He started all 28 games last year,” Culp said. “One of our best all-around players. He is the
definition of a stat sheet stuffer. He was second in points last year and first in rebounds, steals and assists.”
Green is joined by fellow seniors 6-foot-3 F Kael Smith (7.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG), 6-foot-2 G Carter Fenske (7.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG), 5-foot-7 G Brock Franklin (5.2 PPG, 2.3 APG), 6-foot-4 F Carter Baslee (3.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG), 5-foot-11 G Jared Siler (3.1 PPG) and 5-foot-11 G Michael Day. Expected to make an impact at the varsity level this year is junior G Collier Hendricks.
While it is true that the Wildcats lost 23 points per game with the graduation of Waters, Neosho has the collective ability to try to make up for the loss thanks to the experience they bring back. All but one senior has started a game at the varsity level, giving Culp the peace of mind knowing there isn’t a situation his players haven’t been through and can’t figure out on their own on the court. It might just take a little time.
“I think our biggest strengths are our depth and experience,” Culp said. “Bringing back seven lettermen, and six guys who started games last year should be really advantageous for us. These guys set out a goal as freshmen to have the best four-year run the program has had in the last 20 years and I think they will do everything to accomplish that this year.
“We will have to find consistent scoring and that may be something we kind of figure out as we go. Losing Waters, who averaged 23 ppg while being so efficient, will be something that we will have to adjust to. I think we will be a more balanced offensive team this year, but it may take a while to figure out exactly what that looks like night in night out.”
Neosho opens the season at home with a matchup against Nevada on Tuesday.
“We have to take the season one day, one practice, one drill at a time,” Culp said when asked what the keys to his team’s success this year will be. “We can’t be looking ahead. We
need to just be focused on the task at hand everyday. Then, by the time we reach the end of the
season, hopefully, we are playing our best basketball.”
