Players to Watch at the 2023 6A State Tournament

The class 6A state tournament begins Thursday, March 9, at Koch Arena in Wichita. Take a look at one of the many key players from each team. Players are listed in no particular order.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/03/Jayden-Wooten-2024-Blue-Valley-Ayana-Leesman-2024-Topeka-e1678293314430.jpg?w=273" alt="" class="wp-image-399329" width="137" height="135" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Blue Valley 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='198386' first='Jadyn' last='Wooten']. Photo: Robert Kelly.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='198386' first='Jadyn' last='Wooten'], 5'6", PG, Blue Valley, 2024 - Wooten first showed up on my radar when she played in the very first PGH Top 250 Exposure Event back in 2019. She turned out to be the best player on the team due to her consistency, solid game, and passing ability. Fast forward, Wooten quickly established herself as one of the top players in the state and sits firmly as the top player in her class. Anybody who saw her frantic, speedy, whirling, challenged transition basket to overcome Topeka at the state tournament last season can attest. Wooten is very fast, athletic, and can score in bunches. She continues to be a strong passer. Her quickness, hand speed, hops, and aggressiveness also make her formidable defensively. Headed to be one of the top career scores in Kansas history with 1,215 in her career already, she is averaging 21 points per game with 6.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.2 steals.   [player_tooltip player_id='197235' first='Camryn' last='Smith'], 5'8", CG, Shawnee Mission South, 2024 - A season ago Smith showed herself to be a highly skilled, hustling, fierce engine that powered a young and skilled team that was a disruptive force in the SunFlower League. She quickly earned a reputation as being a top player in the class. With another year of summer and high school ball under her and her teammates' belts and the addition of Lone Jack (MO) transfer [player_tooltip player_id='430812' first='Azailah' last='Funches'] to the Raiders, Smith has a diverse group of highly skilled players around her that enables Smith to work more freely. Smith has strong ball skills and scoring ability. She is also creative and distributes the ball well. Defensively, she uses her quick hands and passing lane jumping ability to be a force as well. She is averaging 14.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.   [player_tooltip player_id='298583' first='Serenity' last='Keo'], 5'7", CG, Lawrence, 2023 - Keo is part of a group of seniors that that endured a 2-17 season as Freshman. Each has put in countless hours over the summers to grow their games. Those efforts have led them to be the #4 seed in this year's tournament with an 18-4 record. Averaging 10 points per game on a balanced team where no player averages more than 12, Keo is a player capable of making the athletic, dumbfounding “did I just see that?” score around the basket. Keo scores at all three levels and is among a group of guards who elevate well on their jumpers. She has steady handles, transition speed, and quick hands. She is also tough and will make the step-in to draw charges. She is uncommitted.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='94954' first='Addyson' last='Brown'], 6'2", PF, Derby, 2023 - Recently selected as a McDonald's All-American, Brown is playing at her peak. Committed to play for Iowa State in the fall, she has been dominant all season. Brown's perimeter shooting game and physical strength is vastly improved over a season ago, making her an even stronger problem for opponents to combat inside. She has 18 double-doubles as a result, averaging 20.5 points and 11 rebounds. Probably her most unknown ability is her interior passing. Drawing multiple defenders nearly every time she touches the ball Brown quickly finds teammates for easy buckets and quality shots on the way to averaging 4 assists. Also a smart, physical defender who boxes out well Brown is averaging over 3 assists per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='349796' first='Jaliya' last='Davis'], 6'2", C, Blue Valley North, 2025 - After missing parts of her freshman year due to injuries Davis and her teammates got healthy late, beat the defending state champions in the sub-state final, and put on a dominating performance in a close loss to Olathe North in the quarterfinals. Arguably the top center and one of the top players in the state already, she is averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds. Davis has terrific, lean size; strength, and a very mature and physical post game. She is also fast and can just wear down even the strongest opponents with her play on both ends of the floor. Davis is a major prospect holding several division I offers   [player_tooltip player_id='532208' first='Ma'Khiyah' last='Jones'], 5'8", CG, Wichita Southeast, 2024 - Jones is a force on arguably most unknown teams in the tournament. One of two returners from last year's team Jones is averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds. Across the roster, Southeast is the smallest team reaching the tournament. It also may have the most team speed and broadest group of perimeter shooting threats. Jones is not a flashy player but if paid close attention she stand outs with her smarts, physicality, creativity, and scoring ability around the basket. A player who just makes everybody else better with her passing and the attention she eventually draws from frustrated opponents who lose track of her. One club coach describes her as a beast because of her strength, touchness, and scoring ability. She, like the rest of the team, are physical defenders.   [player_tooltip player_id='127286' first='Brooklyn' last='Deleye'], 6'2", C, Washburn Rural, 2023 - As a University of Kentucky alum myself I was pleased to learn DeLeye committed to the Wildcats to play volleyball. Averaging 16.3 points and 9 rebounds per game, DeLeye went over 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds this season. Extremely athletic and a good scorer, DeLeye can tie-up the paint on both ends and has handles and passing ability to play on the perimeter. The defending state champion beat Derby for the championship a season ago. Both teams on the opposite side of the bracket again this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='192842' first='Skylar' last='Pierce'], 6'0", PF, Olathe Northwest, 2024 - Arguably the top volleyball prospect in the county, the Nebraska volleyball commit is also dangerous on the hardwoods. An extremely quick forward with a strong first step, the southpaw uses her major hops to finish with speed with either hand. Very long and lean, she absorbs contact well. Pierce also has good transition speed, hands, and vision. She recently set the school record for shot blocks when she hit 61 earlier this season. She averages 9 points and 6.1 rebounds.

The class 6A state tournament begins Thursday, March 9, at Koch Arena in Wichita. Take a look at one of the many key players from each team. Players are listed in no particular order.