By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Tamir Anderson
TAMIR ANDERSON, Highland Park
A 6-foot-4 senior, Anderson earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping Highland Park post a 24-1 record and a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. Anderson was one of Shawnee County's top 3-point shooters, hitting 47 treys on the season.
Kaden Ballard
KADEN BALLARD, Washburn Rural
Ballard, a 5-10 junior, was a key player off the bench for the 15-6 Junior Blues last season, averaging 6.1 points, 2.0 assists and 1.7 rebounds. Ballard received TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honorable mention as a sophomore.
KaeVon Bonner
KAEVON BONNER, Seaman
Bonner, a sophomore, was named the TSN All-Shawnee County co-newcomer of the year as a freshman while also earning All-United Kansas Conference honorable mention. Bonner averaged 8.4 points for the 13-8 Vikings while canning 32 3-pointers and shooting 39 percent on 3-point attempts. Bonner shot 77.4 percent from the free throw line.
Brennon Dodge
BRENNON DODGE, Shawnee Heights
A senior guard, Dodge was the lone underclassman on the TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 last season after helping lead Shawnee Heights to a 15-7 record. Dodge averaged 13.8 points a year ago to go with 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Dodge shot 52.5 percent on 2-point field goal attempts and hit 19 3-pointers on the season.
Jack Donovan
JACK DONOVAN, Rossville
Donovan, a sophomore, was named the TSN All-Shawnee County co-newcomer of the year and earned all-county honorable mention as a freshman for the Bulldawgs, who showed strides in a 7-14 season. Donovan also was named to the Valley Falls All-Tournament team and earned second-team All-Mid-East League recognition.
Malakyah Duncan
MALAKYAH DUNCAN, Topeka West
Duncan, a 6-4 sophomore, saw varsity action as a freshman for Rick Bloomquist's 14-8 Chargers and will be counted on to fill a more extensive role this season after Topeka West graduated several key players.
Simon Everhart
SIMON EVERHART, Cair Paravel Latin
A senior, Everhart helped Cair Paravel post an 8-12 record last season after the Lions suffered heavy graduation losses from the 16-5 2021-2022 team. "A long, athletic wing that can run the floor and will finish at the rim,'' CPLS coach Chip Kueffer said. Everhart received TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention as a sophomore.
Bryer Finley
BRYER FINLEY, Seaman
Finley, a junior, saw considerable action for the 13-8 Vikings a year ago and will be counted on to be a leader for Craig Cox's team this season. Finley shot 54.3 percent from 2-point range as a sophomore while also connecting on 20 3-pointers. Finley also grabbed 3.0 rebounds per game last season.
Da'Mykel Hales
DA'MYKEL HALES, Topeka High
Hales, a junior, earned TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honorable mention last season and will be counted on to help the Trojans take steps forward after a 3-18 record a year ago. Hales averaged 10.4 points with 19 3-pointers as a sophomore while averaging 4.0 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals and shooting 71.4 percent from the free throw line.
JC Heim
JC HEIM, Washburn Rural
Heim, a 6-3 senior, is better known as one of the state's top football players, but is also a top returner for the Junior Blues in basketball after helping Rural post a 15-6 record last season. As a junior Heim averaged 5.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the Junior Blues while shooting 61.5 percent from 2-point range.
Amare Jones
AMARE JONES, Washburn Rural
Jones, a 6-1 junior, had a breakout season for the 15-6 Junior Blues a year ago, averaging 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Jones, who also canned 10 3-pointers, earning second-team TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League recognition.
Isaiah Lyons
ISAIAH LYONS, Topeka High
Lyons, a 5-9 senior guard, earned All-Centennial League first-team honors and was a TSN Second 10 All-Shawnee County pick last season for the 3-18 Trojans. Lyons averaged 15.2 points, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals as a junior while hitting 52 3-point field goals and shooting 81.1 percent from the free throw line.
Caleb Noonoo
CALEB NOONOO, Topeka West
A 6-5 senior, Noonoo will be counted on to provide leadership for a young Topeka West team, which is coming off a 14-8 season. Noonoo shot 61.4 percent on 2-point field goals last season and averaged 4.6 rebounds while blocking a city-high 49 shots, averaging 2.2 blocks per game.
Jacob Padilla
JACOB PADILLA, Hayden
Padilla, a 5-8 senior, received second-team All-Centennial League recognition for the Wildcats last season and also earned a Second 10 spot on the TSN All-Shawnee County team. Padila was a consistent outside threat for 11-11 Hayden as a junior, including a 25-point outing in a win over Topeka High.
Keimani Paul
KEIMANI PAUL, Topeka West
Paul, a 6-6 sophomore, earned varsity playing time as a freshman for the 14-8 Chargers and is expected to be a go-to player for Topeka West this season. Paul canned eight 3-pointers last season while shooting 65.9 percent from the free throw line.
Ja'Corey Robinson
JA'COREY ROBINSON, Highland Park
A 6-6 junior, Robinson was one of the area's top sophomores a year ago, helping Highland Park post a 24-1 record and a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. Robinson averaged 10.3 points and 6.2 recounds last season while shooting 68.9 percent from 2-point range. Robinson also averaged 2.5 assists and 1.4 blocks per game, earning TSN Second 10 All-Shawnee County recognition.
Jaret Sanchez
JARET SANCHEZ, Shawnee Heights
Sanchez, a 6-3 junior, earned TSN All-Shawnee County Second 10 recognition last season after helping lead the T-Birds to a 15-7 record. Sanchez averaged 14.5 points and 6.1 rebounds a year ago while shooting 53.6 percent from 3-point range and canning 31 3-pointers. Sanchez shot 78.5 percent from the free throw line.
Evan Will
EVAN WILL, Cair Paravel Latin
Will, a senior, earned TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season, helping the Lions post an 8-12 record after having to replace several key playes from a 16-5 team in 2021-2022. "A poised and experienced guard who scores easy and often,'' CPLS coach Chip Kueffer said. "Will is a true sharpshooter from all over the perimeter.''
Mikey Williams
MIKEY WILLIAMS, Highland Park
Williams, a 6-3 junior, was a key player off the bench last season for the 24-1 Scots, who finished third in the Class 5A state tournament. Williams shot 64.1 percent on 2-point field goal attempts and 42.7 percent from 3-point range while canning 32 3-pointers. Williams earned All-Meadowlark Conference and TSN All-Shawnee County recognition last season.
Jamon Wilson
JAMON WILSON, Highland Park
A 6-foot junior, will step into a more prominent role this season after seeing action off the bench a year ago for the 24-1 Scots, who placed third in Class 5A. Wilson averaged nearly 4 assists as a sophomore while earning TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
