Early Breakout Talents to Know

From one year to the next players can plateau, regress or breakout. In the early going of the KSHSAA 2026 high school season there have been players whose game has kicked into higher levels. Take a look at some of them below.    When working with a guard who knows how to set up a post or pass to where the post can get the ball Krone locks in on non-verbal communication and goes to work. Her back-to-basket game shows her scoring going both ways with either hand with solid hops and athleticism. Krone has a nose for the offensive board and has hurt teams to do not find bodies well. She is also money from the line. Defensively her ability to alter and block shots is visibly disruptive. During one possession I watched the offensive team passed up four shots due to her presence before finally getting up an attempt that was swatted. A very good transition player going both ways.     Wickwar has flat shown out in the Longhorns' drive to return to the 3A state tournament. In the early going she has hung 20+ points on a couple opponents. She has been dropping bombs 20 feet out from all-over the perimeter, including 5 on Larned and 4 on St. John-Hudson, and has a quick release off the catch and step. Wickwar has a solid frame and good transition speed. She can be found at the top of full-court pressure.     Rose and the Tigers are off to a 3-2 start. And while both losses have been double-digit ones to 5A top 5 teams the team is one to watch and Rose is a big reason why. The young point guard has shot 47% from three point land and sports a strong 2.8 assists-to-turnover ratio. She anticipates action and reads play development on both ends well. Off the catch-and-step and especially off the stop-and-pop she shoots it quickly from everywhere. With solid speed and handles she will be one to watch.     Bucklin is a 1A D II state tournament regular and serious contender (lone 2026 loss was to 3A Larned) to finally win it all and Evans' work versatility is a big reason why. She can be found working and defending on the perimeter as well as inside due to her quickness and length. Her stats have steadily increased through her entire career and early numbers show a nudge up from last season's career highs. She is putting up just over 14 points and pulling down nearly 7 rebounds per game. Evans brings solid transition speed, an ability to run lanes well and quick hands to the table. She also was the SPIAA's defensive player of the year in 2024.

From one year to the next players can plateau, regress or breakout. In the early going of the KSHSAA 2026 high school season there have been players whose game has kicked into higher levels. Take a look at some of them below.