By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Highland Park junior Ja'Corey Robinson and Shawnee Heights senior repeat pick Brennon Dodge headline the 2024 TopSports.news All-Shawnee County boys basketball team.
Highland Park junior Ja'Corey Robinson has been named the Shawnee County player of the year after helping lead the Scots to a 23-2 record and a third-place finish in Class 5A. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Robinson was tapped as the Shawnee County player of the year after leading the Scots to a 23-2 record and a second straight third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament, posting double-doubles in all three of Highland Park's state tournament games.
Dodge, the lone all-county first-team repeat pick, helped lead Shawnee Heights to a 19-4 record and the T-Birds' first 5A state tournament berth since 2017.
The Scots, who dropped a three-point overtime loss in the semifinals to eventual state champion Kapaun Mt. Carmel, also put senior Tamir Anderson and junior Mikey Williams on the TSN Shawnee County Top 10.
Highland Park coach Mike Williams has been named the Shawnee County boys coach of the year after leading the Scots to a 23-2 record and a second straight third-place state finish. [Photo by Mac Moore/KSHSAA Covered]
Highland Park's Mike Williams was named the county coach of the year for the second straight season, leading the Scots to a 47-3 record over the past two years.
Dodge is joined on the all-county first team by junior teammate Jaret Sanchez while five other county schools put one player apiece on the Top 10.
That group includes seniors Simon Everhart of Cair Paravel Latin and Griffin Durst of Washburn Rural along with junior Jalen Foy of Topeka West and sophomores KaeVon Bonner of Seaman and Jack Donovan of Rossville.
Robinson and Sanchez both moved up to the Top 10 after being Second 10 picks in 2023 while Anderson, Bonner, Donovan, Everhart and Williams received honorable mention a year ago.
Hayden freshman Mason Becker has been named the Shawnee County newcomer of the year after helping lead the Wildcats to a Class 3A state tournament berth. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden freshman Mason Becker was selected as this season's Shawnee County newcomer of the year after helping the 8-16 Wildcats put together a strong postseason run to reach the 3A state tournament.
All-Shawnee County capsules:
Tamir Anderson, Highland Park
TAMIR ANDERSON, Highland Park -- A 6-foot-4 senior, Anderson stepped into a starting role as a senior after playing a key role off the bench for the Scots as a junior. A proflific 3-point shooter, Anderson helped Highland Park post a 23-2 record and a second straight third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. Anderson, who received all-county honorable mention in 2023, was also named to the All-Meadowlark Conference first team.
KaeVon Bonner, Seaman
KAEVON BONNER, Seaman -- Bonner, a 6-1 sophomore, moves up to the all-county first team after being named the Shawnee County co-newcomer of the year and receiving honorable mention as a freshman. A first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection, Bonner averaged 15.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals this past season for the 9-12 Vikings while hitting 32 3-pointers and shooting 76 percent from the free throw line.
Brennon Dodge, Shawnee Heights
BRENNON DODGE, Shawnee Heights -- The lone Top 10 repeat pick from the 2023 All-Shawnee County team, Dodge, a 6-1 senior, helped lead the T-Birds to a 19-4 record and a berth in the 5A state tournament. A first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection, Dodge averaged 16.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3.5 steals for Shawnee Heights, which made its first state appearance since winning 5A in 2017.
Jack Donovan, Rossville
JACK DONOVAN, Rossville -- A 5-11 sophomore, Donovan makes the all-county Top 10 for the first time after being named the co-newcomer of the year and receiving honorable mention as a freshman. Donovan averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the 15-7 Bulldawgs while setting a school record with 59 3-point baskets. He was a first-team All-Mid-East League pick.
Griffin Durst, Washburn Rural
GRIFFIN DURST, Washburn Rural -- Durst, a 6-4 senior, averaged 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists as a senior as Washburn Rural overcame an 0-6 start to post an 11-11 record and advance to a 6A sub-state final. A first-team All-Centennial League selection, Durst connected on 25 3-pointers while shooting 59 percent on 2-point field goal attempts.
Simon Everhart, Cair Paravel Latin
SIMON EVERHART, Cair Paravel Latin -- A senior, Everhart averaged 16.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals this past season for the 12-9 Lions while shooting 37.3 percent from 3-point range and shooting 71 percent from the free throw line. Everhart, who received all-county honorable mention as a junior after recovering from a broken leg in football, accounted for 35 percent of the Lions' scoring this winter.
Jalen Foy, Topeka West
JALEN FOY, Topeka West -- A 6-2 guard, Foy, who did not play for 14-8 Topeka West as a sophomore turned in a breakout junior season for the Chargers, averaging 13.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.4 blocked shots while hitting 31 3-pointers. Foy was a first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection.
Ja'Corey Robinson, Highland Park
JA'COREY ROBINSON, Highand Park -- Robinson, a 6-4 junior, was named the player of the year in Shawnee County and the Meadowlark Conference after leading 23-2 Highland Park to a second straight third-place state finish in 5A. Robinson registered three straight double-doubles in the state tournament, scoring a total of 61 points and grabbing 35 rebounds. Robinson was a Second 10 all-county selection as a sophomore.
Jaret Sanchez, Shawnee Heights
JARET SANCHEZ, Shawnee Heights -- Sanchez, a 6-5 junior, was a Second 10 All-Shawnee County selection as a sophomore before moving up to the First 10 after averaging 19.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game for the 19-4 T-Birds, who advanced to the 5A state tournament for the first time since 2017. Sanchez also earned All-Meadowlark Conference first-team honors.
Mikey Williams, Highland Park
MIKEY WILLIAMS, Highland Park -- Williams, a 6-3 junior, moves up to the all-county first team after receiving honorable mention as a sophomore for the 24-1 Scots. Williams recevied All-Meadowlark Conference first-team recognition this past season for 23-2 Highland Park, which placed third in 5A for the second straight season. Williams was also named the Meadowlark Conference defensive player of the year.
ALL-SHAWNEE COUNTY BOYS BASKETBALL
TOP 10
Player, school Ht. Gr.
Tamir Anderson, Highland Park 6-4 Sr.
KaeVon Bonner, Seaman 6-1 So.
Brennon Dodge, Shawnee Heights 6-1 Sr.
Jack Donovan, Rossville 5-11 So.
Simon Everhart, Cair Paravel Latin 6-4 Sr.
Griffin Durst, Washburn Rural 6-4 Sr.
Jalen Foy, Topeka West 6-2 Jr.
Ja'Corey Robinson, Highland Park 6-4 Jr.
Jaret Sanchez, Shawnee Heights 6-5 Jr.
Mikey Williams, Highland Park 6-3 Jr.
SECOND 10
Player, school Ht. Gr.
Kaden Ballard, Washburn Rural 5-10 Jr.
Mason Becker, Hayden 5-9 Fr.
Da'Mykel Hales, Topeka High 6-1 Jr.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake 6-1 So.
Amare Jones, Washburn Rural 6-1 Jr.
Isaiah Lyons, Topeka High 5-10 Sr.
Keimani Paul, Topeka West 6-5 So.
Deacon Pomeroy, Shawnee Heights 6-4 Jr.
Dom Ridley, Hayden 5-7 Sr.
Amari Taylor, Highland Park 6-0 Sr.
Honorable mention
Cair Paravel: Jase Pavlik, jr; Evan Will, sr. Hayden: Carter Charvat, sr.; Cooper Colboch, sr.; Connor Hanika, so. Highland Park: Jamon Wilson, jr. Rossville: Kameron Badura, jr.; Cameron Miller, so. Seaman: Holden Finley, sr.; Landon Wiltz, so. Shawnee Heights: Ontaruis Emmot, so.; Dylan Sanchez, sr. Silver Lake: Brody Deiter, jr.; Elijah Lopez, sr. Topeka High: Miquel Villegas, sr. Topeka West: Kamoni Ford, jr. Washburn Rural: John Hoytal, so.; JC Heim, sr.
Player of the year -- Ja'Corey Robinson, Highland Park.
Newcomer of the year -- Mason Becker, Hayden.
Coach of the year -- Mike Williams, Highland Park.
