Unsung Heroes at Big Schools

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some guys make highlight plays and get the headlines. Others fulfill smaller, equally important roles on the floor. These are the unsung heroes. Here are five players from Classes 6,5, and 4 who deserve to be recognized as heroes for their teams despite not getting a lot of recognition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lexi Butts, 2024, Rock Bridge:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Butts is the floor general for this Rock Bridge team and keeps everyone in order. Her ability to facilitate and keep her teammates happy is key for chemistry. She's a proven playmaker that breaks down the defense and makes her open shots. A smart defender that creates turnovers on the perimeter. Her game fits the construct of this team very well. A senior guard who plays her role extremely well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='975890' first='Holly' last='Barlow'], 2027, North Kansas City:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's not often you see a freshman be one of the best players and an unsung hero on a top Class 6 team. That's exactly what Barlow is doing this season. She's a do-it-all guard that can pass, dribble, and shoot better than most 2027s. She's equally impacting the game with scoring, passing, and rebounding from her guard spot. Her youthful energy has positively impacted this team and is a big reason for their 16-4 record.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sarai Clark, 2025, Ray-Pec:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clark is a forward who really completes this Ray-Pec team. She's accepting of her role and deserves a spot on this list. Her interior scoring paired with solid rebounding has helped this team who has solid perimeter play. She's a prototypical back to the basket forward with strong fundamentals and a solid set of skills. Clark is the type of player that should receive more recognition for what she brings to the court.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Delaney Harbrucker, 2025, Oak Park:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harbrucker is a 5'9 difference maker for Oak Park. She's assignment correct on the defensive end, rebounds out of her area, and can make a tough shot when needed. She's active in passing lanes which improves the entire team's defense. The junior is a player who comes close to getting double-doubles on most nights. Her upperclassmen presence is super valuable on a young team overall. For this reason alone she's an unsung hero.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='465331' first='Kodie' last='Gordon'], 2025, Pattonville:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gordon is an unsung hero on this solid Pattonville team. She's a key player in their short rotation and plays both sides of the floor. A staple on the glass, she's a player who earns extra possessions for the team. Also an underrated passer, she's good to create multiple opportunities for others over the course of a game. Gordon is a modern positionless player who competes with an edge.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->