Experienced Silver Lake Squad Expects To Return To State Tourney

After a fourth-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament in 2023, the Silver Lake Eagles expect to return to the tournament with an experienced roster loaded with five seniors.

Kyle Porter’s Silver Lake squad finished the 2022-2023 season with a 23-3 record with two of those losses coming in the state tournament.

Here is a preview of prospects on the Silver Lake roster.

McKinley Kruger McKinley Kruger 5'6" | PG Silver Lake | 2024 State KS , 5’6”, G, ‘24

Kruger is a big-time scorer for the Eagles. She finished with an average of 13.8 points per game as a junior. That was second on the team in scoring in terms of returning players. Kruger has been a three-year starter for the Eagles. She also averaged 3.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game a season ago. She was a finalist for the Class 3A Player of the Year as a junior and could make a run at the award in 2023-2024. I have seen Kruger play volleyball and look forward to watching her ball out this winter.

Makenzie McDaniel Makenzie McDaniel 6'1" | C Silver Lake | 2024 State KS , 6’1”, C, ‘24

McDaniel is the tallest player on the roster, she is also the top returning scorer. She averaged 14.4 points per game as a junior and fell just short of averaging a double-double per game as she brought down a tick over nine rebounds per contest. McDaniel has committed to play basketball for Emporia State after graduation, and like Kruger, she is a three-year starter and was a finalist for the Class 3A Player of the Year.

Kaibryn Kruger Kaibryn Kruger 5'6" | SG Silver Lake | 2024 State KS , 5’7”, G, ‘24

Kaibryn Kruger Kaibryn Kruger 5'6" | SG Silver Lake | 2024 State KS is another guard expected to do well this season. She averaged 7.3 points per game as a junior. She is more physical than her sister, McKinley shoots better from deep. Kaibryn averaged three rebounds per game and 2.5 assists per game during her junior campaign. She plays solid defense and sees the court well. Kaibryn recently committed to play softball for Hutchinson Community College.

Kaylee Deiter Kaylee Deiter 5'8" | CG Silver Lake | 2024 State KS , 5’8”, G/F,’24

Deiter’s HUDL highlights emphasize her defense. She is a plus defender with a big reach and good instincts. She can create steals and block shots. She averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for the Eagles during her junior campaign.

Sarah Wehrli, 5’4”, PG,’24

The fifth senior that Porter will lean on is Wehrli. She is a point guard that can run the floor well. She was a second-team KVA All-State setter in Class 3A. Wehrli arguably has a higher ceiling as a volleyball prospect, but she is a gritty leader on the basketball court.

Other athletes to watch on this squad include Taylor Zordel (’25), Ella Bolan (’25), and Kailyn Hanni Kailyn Hanni 5'7" | PG Silver Lake | 2026 State KS (’26).