CLASS 3A GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2024-25
 

ALISABETH BARTON, COLBY

Barton averaged 15.9 points, 3,5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals as a junior. An experienced Colby squad will look to build on last season’s 15-7 mark. The Eagles dropped a tight game to Goodland in the sub-state semifinals last season. Barton is one of two returning first-team All-Great West Activities Conference selections for the Eagles along with junior Shaylee Holzmeister. Barton was an All-3A honorable mention selection by KSHSAA Covered. She also had a standout volleyball career for the Eagles.
 

 

KINZEE BAUERLE, ATCHISON COUNTY

A complementary scorer as a sophomore to a trio of standout seniors in 2022-23, Bauerle became the Tigers’ go-to player last season as a junior and flourished in the spotlight. After averaging 11.7 points per game as a sophomore, shooting 39% from 3-point range, Bauerle upped her scoring average to 16.6 points per game last year, setting a school record for scoring average in a season. She hit 48 3-pointers, including 8 in a win over McLouth early in the season. The 5-foot-8 senior guard is closing in on 1,000 career points, needing just 229 this season to reach that milestone. The first-team All-Northeast Kansas League selection also averaged 4.4 rebounds and 3 steals per game last year.
 

KENDAL BRUEGGEN, HESSTON
 
After leading Hesston to the Class 3A championship game, Brueggen enters her senior season signed to play collegiately at Missouri State. An All-State Second 5 selection, the sharp-shooting Brueggen averaged 22.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.2 assists for the Swathers, who went 22-4. Brueggen made 59 3-pointers on nearly 40% shooting from beyond the arc. That came on the heels of a sophomore season in which Brueggen averaged 19 points and 6.5 rebounds as Hesston finished 17-6 and reached the sub-state finals. Brueggen, an All-Central Kansas League pick, earned All-3A honorable mention as a freshman, second team as a sophomore and first team last season.

 

ADDISON BUDKE, BELOIT

After taking her sophomore year off from basketball to focus on volleyball, Budke returned to the hardwood last year and gave the Trojans a big-time force in the paint. She averaged 10.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, earning first-team All-North Central Activites Association honors. Though she does most of her damage in the paint, Budke can step out and hit the outside shot to keep defenses honest. A three-sport standout for the Trojans, Budke is headed to Kearney on a volleyball scholarship after finishing her career No. 2 all-time in state history for kills, one of three in state history with more than 2,000.
 

CAMI DALINGHAUS, NEMAHA CENTRAL

A three-year starter at point guard for the Thunder, Dalinghaus helped lead Nemaha Central to an 18-3 mark and the Big Seven League title a year ago. She dished out 4.2 points per game while also adding 9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals a contest. Dalinghaus has averaged 3.5 assists per game throughout her career and earned first-team All-Big Seven League honors last year as a junior. She’ll team with fellow senior Cali Honeyman to give the Thunder two first-team all-leaguers returning this year as the program looks to get back to state after being upset in the sub-state quarterfinals last year.
 

SIENNA DEFRAIN, HAVEN
 
DeFrain, a 5-foot-9 guard, helped Haven reach the 3A state tournament last season by averaging 19.9 points and 5 rebounds as the Wildcats won 16 games before falling to champion Silver Lake in the quarterfinals. DeFrain and returning junior Avery Brawner (12.5 ppg) give Haven a solid 1-2 scoring punch as they try to return to state. DeFrain was an All-3A second-team and All-Central Kansas League first-team selection.

 

LINDSEY DRESSMAN, MARYSVILLE

Already a proven performer after cracking Marysville’s starting lineup as a sophomore, Dressman really turned it on over the second half of last season. Racking up one 20-point game after another, she finished the season leading the Bulldogs in scoring at 15.4 points per game. The 5-foot-9 forward also added 4 rebounds per game and was a first-team All-North Central Kansas League selection. Dressman has a chance to finish well up Marysville’s career scoring and rebounding charts with a big senior season and will look to help the Bulldogs improve on last year’s 10-11 record.
 

KAILYN HANNI, SILVER LAKE

On a team loaded with seniors, Hanni still not only made her mark as a sophomore on Silver Lake’s undefeated Class 3A state championship squad, but often times looked like the best player on the court. Her play from the point keyed huge seasons for leading scorers Makenzie McDaniel – who was an All-State Top 5 selection – and fellow guard McKinley Kruger, and led to a breakout season for her as well. Hanni finished the season averaging 11.3 points per game while dishing out 6.1 assists per game. She posted a 5.64 assist-turnover ratio and shot 84% from the free throw line. She came up huge at the charity stripe in the state championship game against Hesston, hitting 14 of 15 free throws, including key ones in the final minute that capped a 26-point game and clinched the Eagles’ 66-61 victory and 26-0 state championship season. With all four starters around her having graduated, Hanni may take on an even bigger scoring role this year while helping the newcomers transition to their increased roles.
 

HAYDEN HEIM, ST. MARYS

Even with one year left, Heim already has established herself as one of the best players in St. Marys history. A starter since Day 1 of her freshman season, the 6-foot-3 Heim has been a dominant presence in the post for the Bears. She helped lead St. Marys to the Class 2A state tournament in 2023 and then to a runner-up finish to Silver Lake in last year’s Class 3A sub-state. Heim averaged 17.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game last year as a junior, going over the 1,000-point and 600-rebound mark for her career – one of only five Bears to every score 1,000 career points. Heim, a first-team All-Class 3A selection as a junior and second-team 2A pick as a sophomore who has committed to Central Missouri, Heim holds numerous school records, including rebounds in a game (24) and season (245) and blocks in a game (7) and season (59).
 

JULIA HERRMANN, WICHITA COLLEGIATE
 
Known for her tennis prowess as a three-time Class 3-2-1A doubles champion with Laney Conrad, the 6-foot-2 Herrman has been a key player for the Spartans since her freshman basketball season. Despite Collegiate’s 3-18 record last season, Herrman earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV first-team honors along with All-3A honorable mention. The Spartans lost just one senior off last year’s team, so Herrman and Co. will go through their rigorous league slate – which includes state qualifiers Wellington, Andale and Clearwater – with an experienced group.

 

HALLE JONES, HOLCOMB

Jones is back to lead the Longhorns after putting up 16 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in her junior season. She had a career-high 36-point game against Scott City. Jones reached double-digits in all but four games last season and had seven outings with 20 points or more, adding three double-doubles. Holcomb made the sub-state finals before falling to Goodland, 63-41, to finish 17-6. Jones was a first-team All-Great West Activities pick last season and was named honorable mention All-3A by KSHSAA Covered. Jones also had a standout volleyball career for the Longhorns.

 

LAYLA KISNER, SOUTHWESTERN HEIGHTS

Kisner turned in a strong sophomore season, averaging 16.6 points. She had seven games with 20 points or more including a career-high 29-point effort against Stanton County. Southwestern Heights will look to take a step forward after going 9-12 last season. Kisner earned first-team All-Hi Plains League honors last season and received honorable All-3A honors from KSHSAA Covered last season. The Mustangs also return a second-team all-league pick in senior Juanita Puentes. 
 

PRAYER ROEBUCK, NEODESHA
 
Roebuck’s persistence paid off in volleyball, with the kills specialist leading Neodesha through the first day of the 3A state tournament to a fourth-place finish this fall. Perhaps the same thing is possible in basketball, where Roebuck, a senior, surpassed 1,000 career points last season while leading the Bluestreaks to an 18-5 campaign that ended with a loss to Cheney in the sub-state finals. Roebuck, a 5-foot-10 forward, and junior teammate Kimmy Combs each earned All-3A honorable mention, and will give Neodesha a strong 1-2 punch.

 

EMORY SPEECE, OSAGE CITY

A three-time state placer in cross country in Class 3A, Speece’s endurance allows her to go, go, go from her point guard spot when running Osage City’s offense and key the top of the Indians’ press when opposing teams are bringing the ball up the court. Entering her third year as a starter, the 5-foot Speece packs a lot of energy in her diminutive frame and improved her numbers across the board last year as a sophomore. After averaging 9.2 points, 2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals as a freshman, Speece upped those stats to 13.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.9 steals last year. She moved up from a second-team All-Flint Hills League selection as a freshman to a first-team selection last year, leading the Indians to a 16-6 record and a sweep of the league regular-season and tournament titles.
 

KAILY STROUP, PRAIRIE VIEW

It’s not necessarily a coincidence that since Stroup’s arrival three years ago, Prairie View has enjoyed three straight winning seasons after winning just 10 games in the previous five seasons combined. After playing more of a complementary role in her first two seasons, Stroup took on a starring role for the Buffaloes last year. She earned first-team All-Pioneer League honors after averaging 15.2 points, 4 rebounds, 2.3 assist and 4 steals per game last year. With the league graduating many of its top players from a year ago, Stroup and the Buffaloes will look to capture a league title and challenge for a state berth this season.