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Barton
signs 8 in-state recruits for upcoming season
In one of his first moves as the new men’s
basketball coach at Barton County Community College, Craig Fletchall
began working his contacts and hitting the road to put together
a recruiting class for next season. Fletchall has pretty much wrapped
up the in-state portion of that class with the signing of 5 high
school seniors to go along with three transfers from other conference
schools – one who will have to sit out the season due to transferring
within the conference. Two of the transfers are cousins who already
have relation playing for the women’s team at Barton.
The
Cougar coach is still completing his out-of-state class, which will
only consist of 5 certified players for next season due to sanctions
on the men’s program. The high school crop will feature 5
players who all played in a state tournament this past spring.
Reggie
Love
6-3, guard/forward
Wichita, Kansas
Pratt Community College (North High School)
Reggie played at Pratt two seasons ago, sitting out last year with
a broken foot. He will be a sophomore for the Cougars. The 6-1 guard
comes from Wichita, where he played …
His sister Sharece played for the Barton women’s basketball
team last season and will be joined by another sister, Rachelle,
this year. His cousin Mik will also be part of the men’s basketball
team this year. Two years ago with Pratt, Love scored 8 points a
contest. While a senior at North High School, Love was a 1st Team
All-City League pick, averaging 17 points a contest.
Mik
Love
6-1, guard
Wichita, Kansas
Pratt Community College (Heights High School)
Mik, like his cousin Reggie, sat out all last season at Pratt Community
College with a broken foot. Unlike Reggie, Mik has not played college
basketball as of yet and will be a freshman this upcoming season
for the Cougars. His senior season at Heights, Love averaged 8 points
and 4 assists per contest.
Brennan
Bechard
6-0, guard
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence High School
Bechard originally committed to play for Coach Fletchall at Neosho
County but followed his to Barton when he got the Cougars’
job. Bechard was a guard for the Lawrence High Lions last year,
a team that made it to the Class 6A state tournament. Bechard averaged
11.5 points per contest and scored 19 in the opening round of the
6A tournament. Bechard,
the son of former Barton County and current University of Kansas
volleyball coach Ray Bechard, was a 1st All-Sunflower league pick.
Matt
Green
6-0, guard
Lawrence, Kansas
Free State High School
Green was also a participant in the 6A state tournament with Free
State High School of Lawrence. Green was an honorable mention All-Sunflower
selection. Green averaged 8 points a contest for the Firebirds,
who were ranked among the top teams in the state for much of the
season.
Joel
Stucky
6-0, guard
Elbing, Kansas
Berean Academy
Stucky helped Berean Academy to a 4th place finish at the Class
2A state tournament this past season. He averaged 16.7 points a
contest, which helped him be named 1st team All-Class 2A by the
Wichita Eagle. Stuckey was named 1st team All-Heart of America as
well. He will be joined at Barton by him teammate – Andrew
Emmons.
Andrew
Emmons
6-3, guard
Elbing, Kansas
Berean Academy
Emmons joined Stucky on the Berean Academy team that took 4th at
the 2A state tournament. Emmons was also a 1st team All-Heart of
America selection and earned All-State Class 2A honorable mention
honors. Emmons was also a key part of the Berean Academy track team
that took 2nd in 2A at the state meet. Emmons took 3rd in the javelin
at 168-8.
Alex
Pyle
6-5, guard/forward
Towanda, Kansas
Circle High School
Pyle is the tallest of the in-state players for next season, measuring
in a 6-5. He will play both guard and forward for the Cougars. Pyle
led Circle High School to a 4th place finish at the Class 4A state
tournament this past spring. He was a 1st team All-CTL/AVL and earned
honorable mention All-Class 4A honors.
AJ
Martin
6-1, guard
Wichita, Kansas
Cowley County Community College (Southeast High School)
Martin was recruited out of high school by the Cougars but chose
to play for Cowley County instead. Just a few games into the season
he and then Cowley Coach Randy Smithson had differences. Martin
quit the team and began looking for another school, settling on
Barton this past spring. Martin will have to sit out this season
after playing in 7 games for the Tigers last year. As a senior at
Southeast, Martin earned 1st Team All-City League honors, scoring
nearly 15 points a contest. Southeast won the 6A state title his
senior season. He played his 1st 3 prep seasons at Heights High
School.
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Check
out Barton County Basketball Online at www.bartonccc.edu/sports
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