By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kaden Ballard, Washburn Rural
KADEN BALLARD, Washburn Rural
Ballard, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, received Top Sports News All-Shawnee County Second 10 and All-Centennial League second-team recognition last season. A Washburn University signee, Ballard averaged 12.0 points, 3.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while hitting 44 of 127 3-point attempts and 56 of 76 free throws for a 73.7-percent average.
Mason Becker, Hayden
MASON BECKER, Hayden
A sophomore, Becker was named the TSN All-Shawnee County newcomer of the year and received Second 10 all-county recognition last season as a freshman after helping the 8-16 Wildcats advance to the Class 3A state tournament. Becker averaged 5.7 points, hit 17 3-pointers, shot 75.5 percent from the free throw line and registered 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals.
KaeVon Bonner, Seaman
KAEVON BONNER, Seaman
Bonner, a 6-foot-1 junior, moved up to the TSN All-Shawnee County first team last season 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.
Jack Donovan, Rossville
JACK DONOVAN, Rossville
A 5-foot-11 junior, Donovan made the All-Shawnee County Top 10 for the first time last season 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. Donovan is also a standout in football and golf for the Bulldawgs, earning All-Shawnee County first-team golf honors.
Ontarius Emmot, Shawnee Heights
ONTARIUS EMMOT, Shawnee Heights
Emmot, a junior, received TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention recognition last season after helping Shawnee Heights post a 19-4 record and advance to the Class 5A state tournament. Emmot shot 49.2 percent from 3-point range last season, draining 31 treys on the season. Emmot also shot 79.7 percent from the free throw line and blocked 15 shots.
Bryer Finley, Seaman
BRYER FINLEY, Seaman
Finley, a 6-foot-5 senior, played in just four games for the Vikings a year ago before missing the remainder of the season with an injury. Before being sidelined Finley averaged 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Finley is coming off an oustanding football season as a wide receiver, being named the United Kansas Conference offensive player of the year after helping Seaman reach the Class 5A quarterfinals.
Kamoni Ford, Topeka West
KAMONI FORD, Topeka West
A 6-foot-7 senior, Ford averaged 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds for the 14-8 Chargers last season. Ford shot 57.5 percent on 2-point field goal attempts, hit 20 3-pointers and shot 70 percent from the free throw line. Ford received TSN All-Shawnee County honorable mention as a junior.
Jalen Foy, Topeka West
JALEN FOY, Topeka West
Foy, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, turned in a breakout junior season for the Chargers, earning TSN All-Shawnee County Top 10 and first-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition last season for 14-8 West. Foy averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.4 blocked shots while hitting 31 3-pointers.
Connor Hanika, Hayden
CONNOR HANIKA, Hayden
Hanika, a junior, received All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season after helping the 8-16 Wildcats advance to the Class 3A state tournament. Hanika averaged 5.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in 2023-2024 while shooting 52.4 percent on 2-point field goals. Hanika is also a football standout for Hayden, helping the Wildcats post back-to-back runnerup finishes in 3A.
John Hoytal, Washburn Rural
JOHN HOYTAL, Washburn Rural
A 6-foot-2 junior forward, Hoytal averaged 7.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals last season for the 11-11 Junior Blues. Hoytal earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention last winter. Hoytal shot 68.4 percent on 2-point field goals, ranking fifth in the city of Topeka.
Dayne Johnson, Silver Lake
DAYNE JOHNSON, Silver Lake
A junior multi-sport star for Silver Lake, Johnson helped the Eagles post a 15-8 record in the 2023-2024 basketball season, earning All-Mid-East League first-team honors and TSN All-Shawnee County Second 10 recognition. Also a football standout for the Eagles, Johnson earned All-Big East recognition this fall at both wide receiver and defensive back.
Amare Jones, Washburn Rural
AMARE JONES, Washburn Rural
Jones, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, missed the early part of the 2023-2024 season with an injury, but came on strong after Christmas, averaging 10.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Jones earned first-team All-Centennial honors for the 11-11 junior Blues and was a second-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick.
Keimani Paul, Topeka West
KEIMANI PAUL, Topeka West
Paul, a 6-foot-6 junior, averaged 11 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.6 steals last season for the 14-8 Chargers. Paul earned second-team TSN All-Shawnee County and All-United Kansas Conference recognition last season. Paul shot 58.8 percent on 2-point field goals and connected on 22 3-point shots and shot 69.8 percent from the free throw line.
Jase Pavlik, Cair Paravel
JASE PAVLIK, Cair Paravel Latin
Pavlik, a senior guard, earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention last season while helping Cair Paravel post a 12-9 record. Pavlik averaged 12.6 points while shooting 50.4 percent on 2-point field goals and 68.2 percent from the free throw line. Pavlik hit 31-pointers and averaged 3.7 assists and 3.2 steals.
Deacon Pomeroy, Shawnee Heights
DEACON POMEROY, Shawnee Heights
A 6-foot-4 senior, Pomeroy earned TSN Second 10 All-Shawnee County and second-team All-United Kansas Conference honors last season after scoring the game-winning basket in a sub-state final as the T-Birds advanced to the Class 5A state tournament. Pomeroy averaged 11.1 points and 7.3 rebounds for 19-4 Shawnee Heights, shooting 51 percent on 2-point field goals. Pomeroy is an Oklahoma State baseball signee.
Ja'Corey Robinson, HIghland Park
JA'COREY ROBINSON, Highland Park
Robinson, a 6-foot-6 senior, was named the player of the year in Shawnee County and the Meadowlark Conference last season after leading 23-2 Highland Park to a second straight third-place state finish in Class 5A. Robinson registered three straight double-doubles in the state tournament, scoring a total of 61 points and grabbing 35 rebounds. Robinson was the city scoring and rebounding leader, averaging 21.8 points and 11.6 rebounds while shooting 72.2 percent on 2-point field goals and hitting 12 3-pointers.
Jaret Sanchez, Shawnee Heights
JARET SANCHEZ, Shawnee Heights
Sanchez, a 6-foot-5 senior, was a Second 10 All-Shawnee County selection as a sophomore before moving up to the First 10 last season after averaging 19.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game for the 19-4 T-Birds, who advanced to the Class 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-foot-3 senior, moved up to the TSN All-Shawnee County first team last season after receiving honorable mention as a sophomore. Williams received All-Meadowlark Conference first-team recognition last winter for 23-2 Highland Park, which placed third in Class 5A for the second straight season. Williams, named the Meadowlark Conference defensive player of the year, averaged 16.4 points and 3.1 steals last season and shot 63.2 percent on 2-point field goals, 42.2 on 3-pointers with 65 treys and shot 74.8 percent from the free throw line.
Jamon Wilson, Highland Park
JAMON WILSON, Highland Park
Wilson, a 6-foot senior guard, led the city of Topeka in assists with 7.7 per game, helping 23-2 Highland Park place third in Class 5A for the second straight season. Wilson, who received All-Shawnee County honorable mention, also averaged 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals for the Scots. Wilson was also a football standout for the Scots, earning offensive and special teams player of the year honors in the Meadowlark Conference.
Landon Wiltz, Seaman
LANDON WILTZ, Seaman
A 6-foot-1 junior, Wiltz had a breakout sophomore season for the Vikings, averaging 10 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Wiltz earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention. Wiltz shot 51.2 percent on 2-point field goals and hit 33 3-point field goals and shot 75.7 percent from the free throw line.
