Robert’s Top 10 Recently Seen 2025s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Late February through the state tournaments found me watching a bushel full of games in person. I watched several online but for this article I want to shine some light on the top seniors I saw regardless of classification. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='349796' first='Jaliya' last='Davis'], 6'2", C, Blue Valley North - Davis finished off her high school career with a second state championship in four trips to the tournament. In the team's tough opening round win over Washburn Rural her full ability range was on display. In putting up 26 points and 12 rebounds she surprised the Junior Blues at times with not only her ability to go end-to-end but also with her perimeter defense. In addition to picking up 2 assists she led the team in steals with 3. Davis will play for Kansas next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='349453' first='Aubrey' last='Shaw'], 6'1", PG, Blue Valley North - What I enjoyed the most about Shaw was watching her fluidness on the move. In a hard fought quarterfinal win over Washburn Rural she swatted a couple shots, showed range on her three ball and nearly finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Her length and ability to give ground to then stop drives severely limited opposing players' ability to score. Shaw earned her second 6A state championship in four trips and will play for Harvard next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='398376' first='Kendal' last='Brueggen'], 5'10", SF, Hesston - Brueggen and Silver Lake's [player_tooltip player_id='416009' first='Kailyn' last='Hanni'] were the two most talented players in the 3A tournament. Whether inside off rebounds, drives and catches on finishes or from 23' from the basket she scored on everybody and from everywhere. Her hops and competitiveness defensively were strong as well but what really wowed me was her end-to-end ability. Grabbing a board and reading the floor on the fly she weaved through traffic and went to the hole with authority. Brueggen will suit up for Bears of Missouri State University next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='335953' first='SaMiyah' last='Ellis'], 5'9", PG, Wichita Heights - Ellis and back court mates [player_tooltip player_id='335922' first='KaMyra' last='Barber'] and [player_tooltip player_id='398375' first='Kennadi' last='Jackson'] took turns in games being the player that teams struggled to stop. And while each can flat run, score and defend opponents worried about them for different reasons. With Ellis, it was her ability to hit the perimeter shot with range from anywhere. And she hit the biggest shot of the tournament, a buzzer beating 30+ foot jumper off a Barber feet that send Olathe West home in overtime. Ellis will be taking her game to University of Texas-Rio Grande's next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5</strong> <strong>Kaci Young</strong>, 5'4", PG, Halstead - I saw Young three times recently and what consistently stood out was her effectiveness working high traps and full court pressure situations for the Dragons. Athletic, fast and a hustler Young also showed three level scoring ability. What I always enjoyed seeing is how strongly she offensive rebounds. Finishing her career with a 3A state championship Young will play softball for Hutchinson Community College in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='616734' first='Kate' last='Hinck'], PG, Washburn Rural - The Junior Blues gave eventual state champion Blue Valley North its closest game, falling 45-39, and Hinck's play was a major reason why. For close to two years now she has been the fastest player on court with or without the ball. Her elite quickness and hand speed have made her a holy terror defensively. She nothing to convince me otherwise. Her game against the Mustangs was huge. In addition to scoring 6 points and grabbing 4 rebounds she racked up 7 assists and 4 steals that offset her 4 turnovers. If she sours on Soccer at Washburn University she could hoop anywhere she wants.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='350247' first='Emma' last='Sales'], 5'10", CG, Olathe West - The Owls came up just short of advancing to the quarterfinals, falling to Wichita Heights by three. Junior all-state forward [player_tooltip player_id='536974' first='Jessica' last='Borders'] returned from injury a shot while back and it was clear Sales benefitted from the presence of another high caliber teammate to draw defensive attention. The Point Loma Linda Nazarene University (CA) commit went for 17 points and 7 rebounds against a strong Heights backcourt. And while she had 6 turnovers and did not shoot a high percentage because of the defense, she was absolutely dangerous in transition space and from the perimeter. On the other end she and her back court defenders generated 19 turnovers, 15 from Heights' guards, including 7 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='822625' first='Lailah' last='Austin'], 5'6", PG, Olathe North - The back-up point guard made this list for a very big reason, her play in the win over Olathe South when point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1112925' first='Daliyah' last='Williams'] suffered a leg injury at the end of the first half and did not return. Her stats did not grab me, it was her solid play on both ends of the floor against a high caliber team. The solidly framed ball handler had one of my top "WOW!" moments of the 6A day 1 state tournament. Driving down the lane she showed the ball so well that every defender froze. Showed and finished. Austin will be playing for Southeastern Community College (IA) in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#9</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='335922' first='KaMyra' last='Barber'], 5'9", CG, Wichita Heights - The Hutchinson Community College commit did a great deal of heavy lifting at guard and forward spots. She took turns running the point and was key to the Falcons executing set plays, including the last shot that beat Olathe West, in a variety of situations. Barber smartly used her frame and skills to get after it inside against contact to make shots, grab rebounds and get to the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#10</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='616736' first='Kallie' last='Rickords'], 5'4", PG, Derby - Rickords' quickness set her up to be a tenacious defender with quick hands to disrupt whomever she was guarding and to slice through half court defenses with the ball. She did a great job of getting that first step, showing perimeter shooting ability and pushing tempo on possession changes. Rickords will be playing for Cowley Community College next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->