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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