Players to Watch at the 2023 6A State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class 6A state tournament begins Wednesday, March 6, at Koch Arena in Wichita. Last year the Sunflower League got skunked in the first round while the Eastern Kansas League claimed the title and league bragging rights. This year the SFL has three teams returning including returning top seed Shawnee Mission South. Defending state champion Blue Valley North returns but as the only EKL team and with the same seed and record as 2023. The Centennial League (2), Greater Wichita Area League (2), and the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League (1) round out the field. Take a look at one of the many key players from each team. Players are listed within the quarterfinal pairings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Shawnee Mission South (21-1) v #8 Manhattan (12-10)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> [player_tooltip player_id='197235' first='Camryn' last='Smith'], 5'8", CG, Shawnee Mission South, 2024 - Smith has been regarded by many, not just me, as the top defensive player in the state. And after her performance in a overtime loss last year at state no doubt was left for those who were REALLY paying attention. The Missouri Western commit and her running mates will have their work cut out for them against a team that, much like Lawrence last year, does not have that one player who has to be locked down. Manhattan's guards are quick, fast, defend well together, and take turns scoring. Did I mention there are a bunch of them? Smith can score at all three levels but whomever the Raiders think they need to shut down it will most likely happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='192782' first='Tatum' last='Tindall'], 6'0", PG, Manhattan, 2024 - In addition to the Indians having a pile of fast, quick, active guards who can score and shoot the ball they also have size. Fans need to realize that of the team's ten losses, seven were by five points or less and the team was never blown out. Tindall and her fellow bigs will have their work cut out for them as Shawnee Mission South brings in one of the top five players in the class, and Drake commit, [player_tooltip player_id='430812' first='Azailah' last='Funches']. Funches will play on the wing as well inside and can score in bunches. Tindall, [player_tooltip player_id='192791' first='Maxine' last='Doering'] and company have to slow her down to make the game a dog fight like nearly every game they have been in this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#4 Olathe South (18-4) v #5 Blue Valley North (18-4)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='672683' first='Eve' last='Long'], 6'3", C, Olathe South, 2027 - Long sits atop the 2027 class rankings just as Blue Valley North's [player_tooltip player_id='349796' first='Jaliya' last='Davis'] did two years ago. And at the state tournament two years ago Davis served notice, against one of the top senior centers in the state, that there was a new top dog in town inside. Long is not what I would call a pure power player. She can play that way but she has a wide range of abilities that take advantage of her vision, athleticism, and shot blocking without fouling. Her all-around play will be important against a wide range of players with size and differing abilities. South is missing 6'5" [player_tooltip player_id='669830' first='Olivia' last='Robben'], out due to injury, but front court mate [player_tooltip player_id='347855' first='Ella' last='Anderson'] will also play a key role. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='779218' first='Hayden' last='Halliday'] has to be able to help her posts get good looks in the half court and receive quick, catchable passes in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349796' first='Jaliya' last='Davis'], 6'1", C, Blue Valley North, 2025 - The defending state champs captured the title by a point in 2023 after being eliminated in Davis' freshman season by three in the quarterfinals. In that game she flat wore out Olathe North's Yiibari Nwidadah (Washburn University) out by the middle of the third quarter. Just as big, though not quite as strong, terrific transition ability, longer arms, and a dominant face-up and back-to-basket game. The Mustangs relied on that ability against a extremely experienced Washburn Rural team to eke out the title in 2023. Davis brings those same talents plus plenty of experience in tight games to the table. And she gets fed by one of the premier point guards in the state, 6'0" [player_tooltip player_id='349453' first='Aubrey' last='Shaw']. But two players do not a team make and the Mustangs have plenty of talented players like post [player_tooltip player_id='398378' first='Logan' last='Parks'], small forward [player_tooltip player_id='453776' first='Tyara' last='Davis'] and shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='616825' first='Ashley' last='Alverson']. Spacing on offense will be important to not just give Davis room to work but also to enable everybody to create with the pass to generate looks. Tempo will be important too and Davis and the other posts have got to run the floor well the entire game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#2 Wichita Heights (20-2) v #7 Washburn Rural (15-7)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='335953' first='SaMiyah' last='Ellis'], 5'9", PG, Wichita Heights, 2026 - Ellis is one of the very few Falcons with any post-season experience. Ellis led her Independent School to the 2A state tournament last season and won a championship as a freshman at Sunrise Christian Academy. Ellis can shoot with range, handle at speed, pass, and defend consistently and actively. What her team needs most from her is leadership. And with Kamyra Barber's status availability still questionable she and other point guards like Butler Community College commit [player_tooltip player_id='265119' first='Mya' last='Mayberry'] will carry that load. Heights and Washburn Rural met in July at the Capital City Classic with the Junior Blues winning by seven. Passing and creating off the bounce will be key as she must be able to find her bigs to get off quality shots inside and the mid-range or there will be a lot of leather being swatted into the cheap seats with a Vickery stamp on it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='671505' first='Maddie' last='Vickery'], 6'1", PF, Washburn Rural, 2027 - Vickery was huge in the sub-state title game against Wichita South. There is not much one of the top freshmen in that state did not do well. Probably her most dangerous talent is her footwork. There are very few post players who are even remotely as quick as Vickery. And she uses them to whirl and score off the bounce, gain position to use her hops and length to grab rebounds, and to defend pretty much every position on the floor. She can take a shot too. And will still score it and get the and-1. She went 10/10 from the line against the Titans. If feet are not enough then let us talk about her hands and scoring ability. Vickery will catch anything that comes near her and use a wide range of shots to score. Heights has to be able to limit Vickery's effectiveness on both ends of the floor. She will not out muscle the Falcon bigs often but if they do not hustle on transition play or on every rebound Vickery will win that matchup going away. Rural has great guard play as well. Kansas commit [player_tooltip player_id='192821' first='Zoe' last='Canfield'] is not one of the top five players in the senior class for nothing. [player_tooltip player_id='616734' first='Kate' last='Hinck'] a is terrific and super quick floor leading point guard. The team as a whole is a great passing team. Passing and limiting live turnovers will be huge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#3 Derby (19-3) v #6 Shawnee Mission Northwest (16-6)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='719101' first='Macayla' last='Askew'], 6'1", SF, Derby, 2026 - Askew had not moved from Nebraska yet and missed out on the Panthers' tournament run last year that ended in a third place finish. Derby brings back a very experienced and deep team with great leadership provided by Butler Community College commit [player_tooltip player_id='198606' first='Destiny' last='Smith']. Crafty and heady the point guard finds ways to get her teammates the ball often by using her defender's talents against them. Askew is frequently on the receiving end of those passes and can absolutely dominate in stretches. She has terrific athleticism and quickness. She also has a great wingspan and good hops. There are not many rebounds she cannot get to. Askew will hurt Shawnee Mission Northwest with transition baskets and out of her post game. The key for Askew is she has to be on the floor. Derby platoons with a very deep roster but I am thinking having your third or fourth best post player on the floor against your opponent's top or second best at those positions will not work out well for long. She also cannot get into foul trouble. The Cougars have some of the most physical and aggressive offensive interior players around and it could get ugly in stretches without Askew's unique athleticism defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='729411' first='Ruth' last='Gipson'], 6'0", PF/SF, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 2027 - Speaking of physical on the offensive end. If you have not seen Gipson you will not forget her. Highly skilled with strong ball skills she is among the most aggressive offensive players in the Kansas high school game. With good size and athleticism she handles with quickness and can get to the rim. She also shoots from the perimeter fluidly and quickly. The Derby wings and posts will have their hands full with Gipson. Fortunately for the Panthers, they are deep, they have size, and there are several around 6'0" to take turns. That depth could be key. Gipson has some terrific running mates as well that share the scoring, ball handling and rebounding load like PF [player_tooltip player_id='396408' first='Paige' last='Cheffey'], PF/SF Bethany College commit, [player_tooltip player_id='669097' first='Kaitlin' last='Parker'], SF [player_tooltip player_id='398377' first='Gabriella' last='Jackson'] and PG [player_tooltip player_id='773199' first='Abigail' last='O'Connor']. For Gipson to be effective spacing will be a key. O'Connor has to be able to combat the solid Derby back court to create looks for her scorers. Gipson and company also have to box and rebound consistently well or Hutchinson Community College commit [player_tooltip player_id='192778' first='Jaden' last='Wilson'] and company will wear people out and get the transition game going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->