15 CLASS 4A GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2023-24
 

KARTER ALVORD, MCPHERSON
 
Alvord has played key roles on two state runner-up teams and another state qualifier during her high school career. An All-4A honorable mention and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division III first-team selection, Alvord averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds last season as the Bullpups finished 22-3 with a loss to Bishop Miege in the championship. With three of last year’s Bullpups now playing college basketball, Alvord’s experience should help ease the transition.
 

TAIYLOR CARON, COFFEYVILLE FIELD KINDLEY

 
Caron received SEK all-league second team honors last season as a sophomore for Field Kindley. The 5-foot-7 guard averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game last year. Field Kindley finished the year 6-14, losing to Fort Scott in the opening round of sub-state.

TEAGAN GARRISON, MULVANE
 
Garrison plans to play soccer at Hutchinson Community College, but she has been a key contributor on the court throughout her career, leading the Wildcats in scoring each of her first three seasons. She averaged a career-high 12 points and 3.4 rebounds last winter for Mulvane’s 10-12 team that tripped up Clearwater before falling to Andale in the sub-state finals. Garrison earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team honors and All-4A honorable mention as a junior.

 

MARY GRANT, BISHOP MIEGE

 
Grant became a contributor immediately as a freshman on a state championship team last year. The 5-foot-7 guard averaged 13.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last season. Miege finished with a 16-9 record as the team won its fourth consecutive state title last season.
 

ALEXIS HECHT, WAMEGO

On a team loaded with senior talent, Hecht emerged as Wamego's leading scorer as a freshman starter last season, helping the Red Raiders to a 20-2 record and sub-state runner-up finish to eventual Class 4A state champion Bishop Miege. Hecht averaged 14.1 points per game, doing her damage from distance where she was a 41% 3-point shooter. She added 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game as well, ranking seocnd on the team in steals. Hecht was first-team All-North Central Kansas League and honorable mention All-Class 4A.
 

INIYA HINMAN, PARSONS

 
Hinman returns for her senior season following her all-state honorable mention and SEK all-league unanimous first-team honors last year. The 5-foot-9 forward averaged 17.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game last season. Parsons reached state last year and finished with a 16-7 record.
 

GRACE MCCALLOP, BISHOP MIEGE

 
McCallop returns for her junior season after earning all-state and all-EKL second team honors last season. The 5-foot-9 guard averaged 13.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.0 steals per game last season. Miege finished with a 16-9 record as the team won its fourth consecutive state title last season.
 

ALEAH MOREE, WINFIELD
 
Moree, a senior, earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team honors for the second straight season after averaging 13.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Vikings. That came after she was named the league’s MVP as a sophomore when she tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. Offensive inconsistency as a whole left Winfield with a 7-14 record last winter, but the 6-foot-2 Moree gives the Vikings a focal point moving forward.

 

VAL NORWOOD, WELLINGTON
 
Norwood, a junior, has set the bar high along with her teammates in her first two seasons. The athletic guard earned All-Class 4A first-team and Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV most valuable player recognition last winter after averaging 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4.5 assists as the Crusaders returned to the Class 4A state tournament, where they fell to eventual champion Bishop Miege. She also averaged in double figures as a freshman as Wellington took an unbeaten record into state and finished fourth.

 

KAYTON O'BRIEN, LABETTE COUNTY

 
O’Brien returns for her senior season after earning SEK all-league and all-state first team honors a year ago. She led the Grizzlies in scoring last year with 12.4 points per game while also averaging a team-high 2.5 steals. The Grizzlies lost three key contributors from last season, but O’Brien will still have senior guard Nevaeh Jones and junior guard Landry O’Brien playing beside her. The younger O’Brien also missed nine games last year due to injury.

 

KYA THORNTON, CIRCLE
 
Thornton, a 5-foot-5 senior guard, led Circle in scoring each of the past two seasons, earning All-4A honorable mention both years. She was the Thunderbirds’ lone double-figure regular last winter, averaging 12 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals during Circle’s 15-7 season. An All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team selection, Thornton helped the Thunderbirds make a four-victory improvement in 2022-23.

 

ELIZABETH TJADEN, CLEARWATER
 
Few teams have a player who can create a match-up conundrum like Tjaden, a 5-foot-10 guard who can knock down 3-pointers and work down low. The Emporia State signee averaged 16.4 points and 3.8 assists last season as Clearwater finished 13-8. A two-time All-4A honorable mention choice, Tjaden set a school record with 35 points last February in a victory over Wichita Trinity. If she maintains her 2022-23 scoring rate, she’ll surpass 1,000 career points before the holiday break.

 

KIRSTON VERHULST, BISHOP MIEGE

 
Verhulst returns for her junior season following her second straight year of receiving both all-state and All-EKL first team honors.The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 16.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last year. Miege finished with a 16-9 record as the team won its fourth consecutive state title last season.
 

KEEGAN YARICK, FORT SCOTT

 
Yarick returns for her junior season after earning all-state first team and unanimous All-SEK first-team recognition last year. The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game. Yarick will lead the Tigers as they try to reload following the graduation of three players from last year’s rotation who combined for 17.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Still, she’ll have junior point guard Allie Brown and junior forward Kyle Comstock joining her as returning starters. The Tigers won their second straight SEK League title before losing at sub-state in overtime to Topeka Hayden. 
 

BRITT ZEKA, WELLINGTON
 
If the second half of Zeka’s career plays out like the first, big things are in store for the Crusaders. After earning All-4A third team and helping Wellington post a fourth-place state finish as a freshman, Zeka was named to the third team again when she averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals. An All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV first teamer, Zeka helped the Crusaders win their first 19 games and stretch a regular-season winning streak to 43 games before they fell to Andale in the last game before sub-state. Wellington is 44-4 during Zeka’s two seasons.