By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: Additional pictures will be added at TopSports.news when they are received.
Quentin Adams
QUENTIN ADAMS, Highland Park
A senior point guard, Adams was a floor leader for a Highland Park team that posted a 18-5 record and advanced to the Class 5A tournament last season, averaging 6 points, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals for the Scots, who begin their first season in the Meadowlark Conference this winter. Adams earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season.
Bo Aldridge
BO ALDRIDGE, Highland Park
A 6-foot-4 senior, Aldridge helped lead the 18-5 Scots to a Class 5A state tournament berth last season, earning TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 and All-Centennial League first-team recognition last season. Aldridge, who received All-Class 5A honorable mention from the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, averaged 18.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.6 steals as a junior.
Xavier Alexander
XAVIER ALEXANDER, Topeka West
Alexander, a senior guard, helped Topeka West post a 21-2 record in 2021-2022 en route to a second straight Centennial League championship and a second straight 5A state tournament berth. Alexander received TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honorable mention last season after averaging 10.7 points, 3.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals while hitting 47 3-pointers and shooting 66 percent from 2-point range.
Sincere Austin
SINCERE AUSTIN, Topeka West
A 6-foot-1 senior, Austin helped Topeka West post a 21-2 record last season with the Chargers claiming a second straight Class 5A state tournament berth and a second straight Centennial League championship. Austin earned TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 and All-Centennial League second-team recognition as a junior after averaging 10.6 points, 3.1 assists and 2.2 steals and hitting 32 3-pointers.
Jack Bachelor
JACK BACHELOR, Washburn Rural
Bachelor, a 6-2 senior, earned TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 and All-Centennial League second-team honors as a junior for the 9-13 Junior Blues, averaging 13.8 points, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals while connecting on 44 3-pointers and shooting 43 percent from outside the arc.
Malachi Berg
MALACHI BERG, Topeka West
A 6-2 senior, Berg was a workhorse inside for the 21-2 Chargers, who claimed a second straight Centennial League title and a second straight 5A state tournament berth. Berg earned All-Centennial League and TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention, averaging 6.0 rebounds and shooting 60 percent from 2-point field goal range.
Kaeden Bonner
KAEDEN BONNER, Seaman
Bonner, a 6-2 senior, helped lead Seaman to an 18-7 record and the Vikings' first-ever 5A boys state championship, receiving TSN Top 10 All-Shawnee County and second-team All-Centennial League recognition last season as well as All-5A honorable mention from the KBCA. Bonner averaged 13.4 points, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals, shooting 63 percent on 2-point field goal attempts and 45 percent from 3-point range while hitting a city-high 64 3-pointers.
Wyatt Conklin
WYATT CONKLIN, Washburn Rural
Also a football standout for a Junior Blue team that posted an 8-3 record, Conklin, a 6-2 senior, gained valuable experience last basketball season for a Rural team that posted a 9-13 record. Conklin shot 57 percent from 2-point field goal range a year ago and will be counted on to provide senior leadership for the Junior Blues this winter.
Aron Davis
ARON DAVIS, Seaman
Davis, a 6-4 senior, came on like gangbusters late last season for the Vikings, helping Seaman win its last 11 games on the way to an 18-7 record and the school's first-ever 5A boys state championship. Davis earned TSN All-Shawnee County Second 10 recognition last season, averaging 5.7 points an 1.6 blocked shots while shooting 65 percent from 2-point field goal range.
Brennon Dodge
BRENNON DODGE, Shawnee Heights
A junior guard, Dodge earned Second 10 All-Shawnee County honors and second-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition last season for the 14-8 T-Birds. Dodge averaged 14 points his sophomore season to go with 2.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Dodge hit 47 3-pointers on the season.
SIMON EVERHART, Cair Paravel Latin
Everhart will be counted on to provide valuable leadership as a junior for a Cair Paravel Latin team that suffered heavy graduation losses from last season's 16-5 team. Everhart was one of the Lions' leading shot blockers as a sophomore.
Troy Heiman
TROY HEIMAN, Silver Lake
Heiman, a senior, will be a key component for a Silver Lake team that will be looking to improve on last season's 7-14 record. Heiman earned All-Mid-East League first-team recognition a year ago while also earning TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
Jahmir Kingcannon
JAHMIR KINGCANNON, Highland Park
Kingcannon, a senior, is a top returner for a Highland Park team that posted an 18-5 record and advanced to the 5A state tournament last season. Kingcannon earned All-Centennial League and All-Shawnee County honorable mention as a junior after averaging 10.1 points and 4.2 rebounds while connecting on 38 3-pointers and shooting 63 percent on 2-point field goal attempts.
Isaiah Lyons
ISAIAH LYONS, Topeka High
Lyons, a 5-9 junior guard, will be counted on to provide floor leadership this season for the Trojans, who will be looking to take steps forward this season after two straight losing seasons, including a 4-17 record a year ago. Lyons hit 26 3-point field goals last season while shooting 78 percent from the free throw line.
Jake Muller
JAKE MULLER, Hayden
A four-sport athlete, Muller helped Hayden post a fourth-place finish in the 4A state tournament last season, earning Second 10 All-Shawnee County honors and All-Centennial League honorable mention. Muller is a former 4A state track champion and is a two-time All-City first-team soccer pick.
Joe Otting
JOE OTTING, Hayden
Otting, a Notre Dame commit, may be best known as a football player, but the 6-5 senior played a huge role in basketball as a junior as the Wildcats finished fourth in the 4A state tournament. Otting was a TSN Top 10 selection last season and also earned second-team All-Centennial League recognition.
Kade Perine
KADE PERINE, Rossville
Perine, a 6-0 senior guard, was a unanimous All-Mid-East League first-team pick and TSN All-Shawnee County Second 10 selection last season for the Bulldawgs. Also a football standout for the Bulldawgs, Perine helped Rossville win its second straight Class 2A state title in 2021.
Tre Richardson
TRE RICHARDSON, Highland Park
The multi-sport Highland Park senior star helped the Scots post an 18-5 record and advance to the 5A state tournament last season. Richardson, a 5A state track champ as a junior, earned TSN All-Shawnee County Second 10 and All-Centennial League second-team honors as a junior after averging 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals while shooting 65 percent on the field on 2-point attempts.
Bryson Thrasher
BRYSON THRASHER, Topeka High
Thrasher, a 5-11 junior, will be counted on to play a key role this season as Topeka High tries to rebound from back-to-back sub-.500 seasons, including a 4-17 mark a year ago. Thrasher finished in the top 15 in the city in free throw percentage at just under 70 percent.
EVAN WILL, Cair Paravel Latin
Will, a junior, will be among several underclassmen new Cair Paravel Latin coach Trey Brown will be counting on for leadership after the Lions graduated several key players off last year's 16-5 team. Will shot 42 percent from 3-point range in limited opportunities last season.
