Robert’s 2023 Summer Ball All-Kansas 2025 Team, Part 2
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As I plow ahead through my end of summer all-Kansas teams I wrap up the 2025s in this part 2 that includes combo guards/wings/small forwards and power forwards/centers. Part one shared point and shooting guards. It is composed only of…
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Continue ReadingAs I plow ahead through my end of summer all-Kansas teams I wrap up the 2025s in this part 2 that includes combo guards/wings/small forwards and power forwards/centers. Part one shared point and shooting guards. It is composed only of players that I saw play live. My stops to see action in person included the MAYB Hall of Fame Exposure and Summer Kickoff events, three PGH
Dynasty (KS)
Circuit events, PBR’s The End Game event, and the Fort Hays State University individual camp. A limitation on inclusiveness of players and clubs is readily apparent. Always impactful, and especially disappointing, is the number of clubs I do not get to see. Usually because the teams chose to play primarily out of state but especially frequent was clubs not being at events I was covering. There are always players attending events where I am but unfortunately I do not always get the quality look at them as I would have liked.
Combo Guards/Small Forwards
Brynnae Johnson Brynnae Johnson 5'8" | CG Lawrence | 2025 State KS , 5’8″, Lawrence, Earl Watson Academy – I am not the only one who saw great things from Johnson this summer. She had a break-out event at the PGH Top 250 event in Shawnee last October and was an integral part of a swarming Chesty Lions team that used every inch of the floor on both sides of the ball to give Washburn Rural a fantastic quarterfinal 6A state tournament game. Her stat line shows a great deal about her abilities – 21 points, 5 boards, 4 steals, and a couple assists to just 3 turnovers. In July well regarded scout Mason Asher posted “…was very impressive today as she showed great footwork around the basket and does a nice job of getting her defender off balance. She can flat out just get baskets for her team.” She has good size for the position and very quick hands and feet. She handles with creativity and is one of the strongest, most athletic finishers in the state. Johnson earned KBCA and Varsity Kansas 6A second team and Sunflower League first team honors last season.
Valerie Norwood Valerie Norwood 5'7" | CG Wellington | 2025 State KS , 5’8″, Wellington, Kansas United – I was able to see Norwood play at both ends of the summer. Starting off at April’s MAYB Hall of Fame Exposure event she was one of three Kansas United players who stood out every game against strong competition. She is strong and fast with the ball, heady, and has a nose for the rim. And with her size, motor, and perimeter capabilities she causes huge problems for opponents. They cannot let up or she will rip holes in them. Her physicality on defense generates missed shots and turnovers which she quickly turns into transition opportunities. Wellington is a virtual lock to return to the 4A state tournament. The AVCTL Div IV player of the year also earned KBCA and Varsity Kansas 4A first team honors.
Savannah Phillips Savannah Phillips 5'9" | SF Arkansas City | 2025 State KS , 5’9″, SF, Arkansas City – Not until late in the summer did I see Phillips again, joining B2B Kansas Bluejays for The End Game in July. Not just college coaches were asking me “who is that?” and saying “she can play.” I was telling people after last summer to watch out for Ark City because they were coming. And they are only going to be stronger with another year under their belt. Phillips is among the couple of players leading that charge. Phillips is a highly skilled, athletic, and fast small forward with very quick feet on both ends of the floor. She has solid handles and is a very difficult scorer to stop. Phillips will blow by defenders off the spin move, beat them off the bounce, and finish put-backs and drives through contact. Entering the next update just outside the top 30, Phillips has the potential to be among the top ten come March.
Prayer Roebuck Prayer Roebuck 5'10" | SF Neodesha | 2025 State KS , 5’10”, SF, Neodesha, 365 Hoops Elite – The two-time Tri-Valley League first team, and Varsity Kansas honorable mention, selection is a lock to repeat from what I have seen this summer. With her solid size and good length Roebuck has a mature, diversified game that she uses to – quite frankly – abuse opponents with. A legitimate three point threat Roebuck moves well without the ball and has handles to swiftly go end-to-end off the rebound. Roebuck, who also plays center at times, will look to break through the sub-state final ceiling to reach the 3A state tournament in 2024.
Brittan Zeka Brittan Zeka 5'10" | CG Wellington | 2025 State KS , 5’10”, Wellington, Kansas United – I enjoyed seeing Zeka at April’s MAYB Hall of Fame Exposure event fresh off the Crusaders’ 4A state tournament run. She showed consistent energy and speed on both ends of the floor and lit up opponents from beyond the arc with range. Able to work well at speed with the ball Zeka finished athletically with either hand. A solid rebounder, she was always a threat to finish the put-back and go end-to-end off the defensive board. About the only things I would like to see more of was a scoatch more quickness and physicality defensively. Zeka earned KBCA and Varsity Kansas 4A honorable mention as well AVCTL Div IV first team honors last season.
Centers/Power Forwards
Miracle Akpotayobo Miracle Akpotayobo 6'3" | C Desoto | 2025 State TX , 6’1″, PF, Life Prep – Akpotayobo, if she was playing for a KSHSAA member program would be an easy all-state pick regardless of classification. She has great size and strength but her strongest physical feature is her amazingly quick feet. She has strong face-up and back-to-basket games and scores with athleticism off of moves like interior spins. While her energy can improve she does have solid speed. Defenders who give her the most trouble are shorter, stockily built guards who draw the short straw to try to bang with her inside. She makes opponents closer to her size look absolutely terrible at times because they simply cannot stop her nor score on her. As she continues to improve her consistency will only get better. The D I and D II universities she has offers and interest from have a pretty good idea of how high her ceiling is.
Heaven Gilbert Heaven Gilbert 5'10" | PF Wichita Heights | 2025 State KS , 5’10”, PF, Wichita Heights, B2B Kansas Bluejays – Gilbert has quickly become one of the strongest, most skilled, and heady bigs in the Wichita area. While her skills need to continue to get sharper and more diversified what she brings is solid quickness, great hands, athleticism around the basket, and ridiculous strength. At one club event she literally, and accidentally, threw an opposing big out of bounds while competing for a rebound. Of similar size, that player was done mentally. The rest of the game was a frustration because she could not move nor bully Gilbert. And she kept getting beat on the glass and on the offensive end. I expect Gilbert to garner more honors than the second team Greater Wichita Area League honor she earned in 2023.
Aliyah Green Aliyah Green 6'0" | PF Andover | 2025 State KS , 6’1″, Andover, Kansas United – The Hutchinson transfer boosts the Trojans’ chances of bringing home a state title if she can stay healthy. Seeing her in the early part of the summer she continued to show terrific speed, quickness (especially off the bounce), and athleticism. She also showed herself to be a dangerous perimeter shooter. Off the rebound, always a threat to go end-to-end. She plays with physicality on both ends and finishes well through contact with either hand. An Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Div I second team and Varsity Kansas 5A honorable mention selection, I expect a big year for her and the Trojans.
Katie Johnson Katie Johnson 5'11" | PF Doniphan West | 2025 State KS , 5’11”, PF, Doniphan West – At the MAYB 1A/2A tournament I enjoyed an extended look at the slenderish, lengthy, and hard working Mustang forward. A very active post player, the team actively got her a ton of touches. She clearly showed she was far from a black hole. Working with a solid face-up and back-to-basket game she used those skills sets out of movement without the ball. Post, catch, pass, dive to a spot, catch, square, and maybe turn it all into a hoop or get an assist on a teammate’s score. She transitions well and defensively disrupts offensive play with her quickness and length. The defending 1A Division 1 state champion will be looking to her an others filling shoes of graduated seniors to capture a repeat.