The Running Decks: Topeka Preseason Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm not originally from Topeka, but after living here for 26 years, it has become home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have seen a ton of Topeka athletes as a teacher, coach, sports writer, and scout, come and go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Topeka remains a hotbed for college-level athletes, especially on the basketball court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If I decided to return to coaching and wanted five players to take into battle during the 2025-2026 prep season, here are the five suiting up for the "Running Decks."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Opponents beware, because this team is long, physical, and tougher than a two-dollar steak.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I hope I get to see each of these athletes play at least once in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["671505"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69174a3c4c2b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vickery would be the captain on this squad and lead a powerful scoring front court. She is ranked No. 2 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027 and has verbally committed to Kansas State University. She is a three-level scorer, and I will need her to handle the ball quite a bit, since I have only one true guard on this team. She has cat-like speed and will score in transition often for this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["898858"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69174a3c4c317"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Schmidtlein, along with Vickery, gives me two six-footers who can run the floor. She will also be looking to get out in transition, as I have to board monsters in the paint to get them quick outlets. The Wildcat sophomore is ranked No. 2 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. She has the potential to record a double-double every time she steps on the court. She will be leaned on to score a lot this season for Hayden.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["884867"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69174a3c4c35e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Highland Park center will be my paint monster. Carter was featured in another PGH report earlier this month, so I won't rehash her statistics in this report, but she is a double-double machine and cleans the glass better than Merry Maids. The Scotties' "big" is a solid passer, which I will want on this team. With the weapons assembled around her, she could be a threat to record a triple-double each night for the "Running Decks." Carter is ranked No. 7 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["898363"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69174a3c4c3a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Caryl is the first of my two "meat and potatoes" role players on this squad. Affectionally known as "Diesel," she will be my enforcer and shut-down defender in the paint. She also gives me another scorer inside, and someone willing to fight for offensive rebounds to extend possesions. She has more grit in her game than John Wayne and Jeff Bridges combined. Rural's Vickery will be the poised captain on this squad, while the fiery Caryl will be the emotional court leader. She is ranked No. 7 overall by PGH Kansas in the Class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["931949"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69174a3c4c3e1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The one true guard and only senior on this roster is Topeka High's Marshall. She was one of my favorite players to watch last season and will have one responsibility on this team: distribute the ball. She is an unselfish player and has more sand in her game than can be found in the Llano Estacado. Like Caryl, she does the quiet things to win games, like chasing loose balls, creating steals, and taking charges. Marshall is ranked No. 35 overall by PGH. She is a grinder who can thrive in a secondary role on a team filled with scorers. So now the only question is, Whose Got Next?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->