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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Despite the jaw-dropping stats that he put up at Topeka High, former Trojans superstar running back Ky Thomas knew that making the jump to Division I football at Minnesota would be an adjustment.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which hit shortly after Thomas arrived on Minnesota's campus, complicated that transition, as did a labrum injury.
Ky Thomas
But as the 6-foot, 205-pound tailback prepares for his second college season, Thomas feels like that process is finally complete and that he's ready to show what he can contribute to the Gophers.
"It probably took me until now, the whole year,'' Thomas said this week during a trip home to Topeka. "Now I'm comfortable, now I know the system and now I know how everything goes and I know what to expect.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize hundreds of Shawnee County's all-time greats in 25 sports/categories as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July, with the Top 25 in all categories announced in August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best, click on: https://linkto.run/p/QT6XB7WC. Email votes/nominations will also be accepted at
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Who is the greatest men's basketball player in Shawnee County history?
That's a toughie!
Is it Topeka High product Fred Slaughter, who started on John Wooden's first NCAA national championship team at UCLA, or former Hayden star Tom Meier, who helped the Wildcats post a perfect 25-0 season before going on to lead Washburn University to an NAIA national championship.
Tom Meier
Kyle Weems
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After a forced year off due to COVID-19, the Darting Basketball Academy 3 on 3 Summer League has returned with a vengeance this summer.
The 3 on 3 league, which made its debut in 2019, has had 220 players, age 8 through 18, take part this summer, drawing players from across the area to Shawnee Heights.
"We weren't able to do it last year because of COVID but we have more players this year than we did the first year and we have kids from all over,'' Kerry Darting said. "We have kids from Salina, Manhattan, Sabetha, Lawrence, Kansas City.''
Darting Basketball Academy's Kerry Darting (second from left) poses for a picture with 3 on 3 Summer League elementary level MVP picks Ryder Valdivia (left), Hudson Heim and Lucy Martinie. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
KK Emmot (left) and Mason Becker (right), middle school MVPs from the Darting Basketball Academy 3 on 3 Summer League, pose with Kerry Darting Tuesday night. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize hundreds of Shawnee County's all-time greats in 25 sports/categories as part of our Best of the Best project. Readers will have the opportunity to vote through July, with the Top 25 in all categories announced in August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best, click on: https://linkto.run/p/7NXPFJZL. Email votes/nominations will also be accepted at
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There may not be a clearcut favorite when it comes down to picking the top women's basketball player in Shawnee County history.
Or to lock at it another way, there's a whole bunch of favorites.
The list of candidates includes former Kansas State stars like Nadira Hazim, Kristie Bahner and Peyton Williams as well as former Washburn University stalwarts Brenda Shaffer-Dahl, Shelley Foster, Nikki Olberding, Latisha Yarnell, Kelly Jennings, Lorie Roenbaugh, Jessica Mainz and Erika Lane.
Jeneka Joyce was a NCAA national champion for Notre Dame, while Crystal Kemp was an All-Big 12 pick for the Jayhawks, Cierra Ceazer made her mark at Grambling and Indiana State and both Deana Alexander and the late Tisharria Huggins played at Wichita State.
Brenda Shaffer-Dahl
Tatyana Legette
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the coming weeks, TopSports.news will recognize hundreds of Shawnee County's all-time greats in 25 sports/categories as part of our Best of the Best project. The project gets under way with baseball and readers will have the opportunity to vote through July, with the Top 25 in all categories announced in August. To cast a vote for the Best of the Best, click on: https://linkto.run/p/87MXCEBI Email votes/nominations will be also accepted at
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The list of contenders to get the nod as the top baseball player in Shawnee County history has to start with New York Yankees World Series hero Mike Torrez and American League All-Star and Gold Glove winner Ken Berry.
Mike Torrez
Ken Berry
