The term 5-tool player is spoken often when baseball scouts analyze talent for recruiting and MLB's draft. In the case of Garden County point guard Johnny Vargas, we are borrowing that term for the high school boys basketball court.
Vargas didn't lead Nebraska in scoring, assists, rebounding, steals or blocked shots a year ago. But he does them all very well. In fact, the 5-foot-8 senior is the only Nebraska boys basketball player to qualify for this week's Top 10 in all five statistical categories. In order to be considered for this week's Top 10, a player must dominate in three of the five categories.
Due to his performance as a junior, Vargas produced the state's top returning stat line after averaging 13.6 points, 3.5 assists, 8.2 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 1.1 blocked shots while leading the Eagles to a 12-12 record.
Ainsworth's Carter Nelson reached 4-Tool status and grabs the No. 2 spot this week. Nelson scored 12.6 points a game a year ago and dished out 4.8 assists, pulled down 8.7 boards, stole 1.6 enemy balls and swatted 3.4 shots per game. Malachi Washington, of Boys Town, slides into No. 3 after scoring 18.6 points a game and pulling down 14.2 rebounds an outing last season.
Sandhills Valley's Cole Kramer poured in 20.2 points an outing and ripped down 11.0 boards per game a year ago to take the No. 4 spot while Trey Quick of Twin River rounds out the Top 5 after scoring 14.9 points, dishing out 0.6 assists and grabbing 10.5 boards last winter. Quick played for Niobrara/Verdigre a year ago.
Classes B, C1, C2, D1 and D2 are all represented in this week's Top 10. But that doesn't mean Nebraska's largest classification isn't represented by some outstanding athletes. Lincoln North Star's Brennon Clemmons Jr. returns the Cornhusker State's 15th best stat line and represents Class A after averaging 10.2 points, 0.7 assists, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 1.7 blocked shots a year ago.
In order to be considered for this week's Top 10, an athlete had to post an average of at least 10.0 points per game. Then, those athletes were given higher consideration for averages of 3.0 assists, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and/or 1.0 blocked shots.
Nebraska's Top 10 returning boys basketball stat lines
1. Johnny Vargas, Garden County (Oshkosh)13.6 Points | 3.5 Assists | 8.2 Rebounds | 4.2 Steals | 1.1 Blocked Shots
2. Carter Nelson, Ainsworth12.6 Points | 4.8 Assists | 8.7 Rebounds | 1.6 Steals | 3.4 Blocked Shots
3. Malachi Washington, Boys Town18.6 Points | 1.1 Assists | 14.2 Rebounds | 1.4 Steals | 1.0 Blocked Shots
4. Cole Kramer, Sandhills Valley (Stapleton)20.2 Points | 1.5 Assists | 11.0 Rebounds | 1.0 Steals | 1.8 Blocked Shots
5. Trey Quick, Twin River (Genoa)14.9 Points | 0.6 Assists | 10.5 Rebounds | 0.8 Steals | 2.2 Blocked Shots
6. Viktar Kachalouski, Parkview Christian (Lincoln)15.3 Points | 4.9 Assists | 5.1 Rebounds | 3.1 Steals | 0.5 Blocked Shots
7. Manny Paul, South Sioux City13.6 Points | 1.0 Assists | 8.8 Rebounds | 1.3 Steals | 3.1 Blocked Shots
8. Kyler Lusche, Kimball11.4 Points | 1.5 Assists | 9.1 Rebounds | 1.6 Steals | 2.3 Blocked Shots
9. Schyuler Mustin, Stuart13.2 Points | 1.8 Assists | 6.0 Rebounds | 3.3 Steals | 1.0 Blocked Shots
10. Treven Wendt, Pleasanton14.3 Points | 3.0 Assists | 4.5 Rebounds | 3.0 Steals | 0.4 Blocked Shots
