Hugoton Coaches Win Sports in Kansas Coach of the Year Awards

Sports in Kansas 4A Boys’ Coach of the Year: Trey O’Neil, Hugoton

Hugoton coach Trey O’Neil continues his remarkable playing and coaching career. O’Neil was a two-time SIK Player of the Year for his dad, Glenn, at Scott City. SC won four state titles from 2011-15 and five total under Glenn. Trey was on three state title teams and was top-5 all classes as a senior.

O’Neil led Hugoton to its first-ever boys’ basketball state title with a 23-2 record. Hugoton opened 1-2 at the Hays City Shoot-Out against much bigger schools and won 21 straight. At state, Hugoton won by 17, 20 and beat McPherson, 67-58, in the state title game. Hugoton was ranked ninth in the preseason.

Trey played in 117 career games as a four-year player at Fort Hays. He is eighth all-time in Tiger history in made 3-pointers. O’Neil started his coaching career as a two-year assistant under Alex Hutchins, a Scott City graduate. They helped Hays High boys enjoy the most wins in a three-year stretch in school history. HHS was a 2020 COVID Forever Four team and lost in the state quarterfinals in ’21. Last season, O’Neil took over a relatively inexperienced team and brought the Eagles back to the state tournament.

This year, Hugoton was much more veteran-laden with Ryle Riddlesperger, Carson Bennett, Dasean Lewis and Emmett Gaskill. Riddlesperger set Hugoton single season and career 3-point records. He averaged 18.6 points per game, Bennett 16.1. Lewis recorded 35 steals and 12 taken charges; he has 26 charges in the last two years. Gaskill had 5.8 rebounds, 31 steals and shut down main scorers in the 4A state tournament. O’Neil, 26, is one of the youngest coaches to win a state title.

O’Neil does an excellent job with infrastructure. During the summer, Hugoton lifts four days a week at 6 a.m. In the school year, Hugoton lifts five days a week. He and his program have worked with Hugoton youth.

Congrats to the Hugoton Eagles on an awesome 2022-2023 season! Congrats to all of our players and coaches on a fantastic season. We are proud of you. A big congrats to Coach O’Neil as the 4A COY from SIK! – from Hugoton High School and Hugoton High School Athletics.

Congratulations Coach O’Neil for being chosen the 4A boys coach of the year!  Farm Bureau Financial Services-Jeff Ramsey Agency and the Hugoton Sports Boosters are very proud of you as is the entire Hugoton community and fans!

Sports in Kansas 4A Girls’ Coach of the Year: Emmanuel Adigun, Hugoton

Hugoton’s Emmanuel Adigun is among the state’s most well-liked and respected coaches. Adigun led Hugoton to third and second place finishes in 3A the last two winters. This winter, Hugoton moved up to 4A as one of the state’s smallest schools in that classification. Hugoton was the second smallest 4A in Kansas and less than half of the size of the largest school in the class.

Adigun had three seniors who were all four-year starters. The trio has each signed to a Division I/II school: Mikyn Hamlin, Summya Adigun and Gianna Vos. All three cleared 1,000 career points, the first time that’s happened to a Kansas girls’ basketball team in at least seven years.

Hamlin, a Wyoming signing, suffered a knee injury in the summer. Hugoton opened 3-4 with losses to Arkansas powerhouse Fort Smith, 6A Liberal, 3A Cimarron and 3A Scott City. Cimarron eventually finished 19-4. In the Jan. 6 Scott City loss, Abi Slocum, another starter, went down with a season-ending knee injury.

Adigun, known for his charisma and positivity, was also dealing with health issues with his son, Adrian, a middle schooler and quality basketball player. Adrian had a severe health scare in the summer.

Adigun kept preaching “next player up” as Hugoton had to use JV players with no prior varsity experience. Hamlin played around four minutes Jan. 10 in a game against Hooker, Okla. Then, Hamlin played around 12 minutes and made a couple of treys in a 54-46 loss to Goodland that essentially decided the GWAC title. Goodland went 26-0 this season and is the back-to-back 3A state titlist.

Hamlin continued to come back. Hugoton won the Sterling Invitational tournament, including victories against Southeast of Saline and Scott City. After the SC loss, the Eagles finished 16-2 and took third after a semifinal loss to Bishop Miege. Longtime Hugoton assistant Jeff Ramsey has coached with the Eagles for 11 years. Ramsey noted Adigun’s leadership and positive attitude throughout the year through adversity. Hugoton finished 19-6.

Congrats to the Hugoton Eagles on an awesome 2022-2023 season! Congrats to all of our players and coaches on a fantastic season. We are proud of you. A big congrats to Coach Adigun as the 4A COY from SIK! – from Hugoton High School and Hugoton High School Athletics.

Congratulations Coach Adigun for being chosen the 4A girls coach of the year!  Farm Bureau Financial Services-Jeff Ramsey Agency and the Hugoton Sports Boosters are very proud of you as is the entire Hugoton community and fans!