CLASS 5A BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025-26
 

JALEN BATISTE, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Batiste, who transferred from Maize after his freshman year, is part of a now-veteran Maize South squad that entered the season with high hopes after posting a 12-10 record in 2024-25. The 6-foot-3 junior averaged 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists last season to earn second-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I honors along with All-Class 5A honorable mention. Batiste, who posted the third highest single-season assist total in Mavericks program history, provides a good complement to inside threat Cy Stucky. Both were key contributors on a roster void of seniors a season ago.
 

   
KAEVON BONNER, SEAMAN
 
Following in the footsteps of older brothers Kobe and Kaeden, KaeVon has become a go-to scorer, particularly from deep for the Vikings. A four-year starter, the 6-foot-4 point guard earned first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors for the second straight year after leading the Vikings in scoring with 19 points per game. Bonner can light it up from deep and shot 38.9% from beyond the arc. He’s averaged 14.3 points per game throughout his career and also has dished out 2.4 assists per game in his career, averaging a career-best 3.7 per game last year. A second-team All-Class 5A pick last year, Bonner recently committed to Rockhurst University.
 
 

ALAMAR BROOKS, PIPER

Brooks returns as one of the top two-way guards in the United Kansas Conference, looking to build on a strong junior campaign that helped propel the Pirates to a memorable 2024-24 season.. A two-year starter, Brooks averaged 11 points and six rebounds last season, earning second-team all-UKC honors. Brooks played a key role in Piper’s 21-4 season and third-place finish at the Class 5A state tournament, where the Pirates bounced back to defeat Andover after a narrow semifinal loss to Highland Park. 
 

JACKSON BRUCE, SPRING HILL

Bruce returns as one of the Frontier League’s most dynamic backcourt threats. The 6-foot-3 combo guard enters his second year as a starter after a breakout sophomore campaign in which he averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, earning first team All-Frontier League and second team All-State honors. 
 

BLAISE DALIAN, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
The 6-foot-4 Dalian returns in the backcourt for the Crusaders after helping them win their second consecutive Class 5A title last season. The junior averaged 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, providing solid offensive support behind All-State Top 5 pick Corbin Johnson, who is now playing a post-graduate season at Wichita’s Sunrise Christian. Dalian, a second-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League selection, is equipped to help Kapaun transition for a run at another state crown. 
 

  
MALAKYAH DUNCAN, TOPEKA WEST
 
Duncan moved into a starting spot as a sophomore and after playing more of a complementary role that year, he took on more of a leading role on a balanced Charger team last year. Duncan went from averaging 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game his sophomore season to leading West in scoring last year at 11.3 points per game. He helped the Chargers return to the Class 5A state tournament for the third time in the past four years. The 6-foot-4 senior guard earned second-team All-United Kansas Conference honors and will team with fellow senior Keimani Paul to give the Chargers a strong guard combo to lean on this season.
 
 

KELAN GRUVER, BONNER SPRINGS

Gruver returns as one of the Frontier League’s most dynamic playmakers. The 6-foot-3 point guard is now a four-year starter, and earned first team All-Frontier League and Class 5A second team All-State honors last year after averaging 16.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He helped guide Bonner Springs to a sub-state championship before the Braves fell to Andover in the opening round of the state tournament.He entered this season just five points shy of 1,000 for his career, and he wasted no time joining the milestone club—exploding for 37 points in a season-opening win over Lansing. 
 

JACOB HALL, GREAT BEND

The 6-foot-2 guard/forward was a key piece in Great Bend’s 18-3 campaign a year ago. He averaged 12.5 points and 6.1 rebounds. The Panthers swept through Western Athletic Conference play to win the conference title but were upset in the first round of sub-state by Eisenhower. Hall earned first-team All-WAC honors and was honorable mention All-5A. The senior was a key contributor on the Panther football team that went 11-1 and reached the state semifinals. 
 

DJ JACKSON, PIPER

Jackson returns for his fourth year in the starting lineup as one of the most seasoned guards in the United Kansas Conference. The 6-foot-2 playmaker is coming off a standout junior campaign in which he averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists, earning first-team All-UKC and second-team all-state honors while helping the Pirates secure a third-place finish in at the state tournament. Already a two-time All-UKC selection, Jackson enters his senior season just 166 points shy of the 1,000-point milestone.
 

JASON JONES, BONNER SPRINGS

Jones is back for his third year in the starting lineup, as he averaged 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals last season. Jones earned Frontier League second-team honors and an all-state honorable mention selection. Jones played a key role in helping Bonner Springs capture a sub-state championship and finish 18-5 a year ago. It was the Braves’ first state appearance since 2019. 
 

ROCCO KELLER, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Keller, a receiver on Kapaun’s Class 4A championship football team, heads into the basketball season as the Crusaders’ top returning scorer. He averaged 14.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists as Kapaun claimed its second consecutive 5A title with a 22-3 record. Like teammate Blaise Dalian, Keller earned second-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League honors and All-5A honorable mention.
 

BRODY KREUTZER, BISHOP CARROLL
Kreutzer, a second-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League selection last season, is one of several returnees for the Golden Eagles, who graduated only Jackson Bergkamp and Ian Muth from a 10-11 squad last winter. He got his senior season off to good start with 24 points in Carroll’s 29-point victory over Hutchinson at the Allen Samuels Classic, then had 14 in Carroll’s 50-47 loss to Class 5A No. 3 Great Bend.  
 

EMMITT PETERS, ST. JAMES ACADEMY

The 6-foot-2 shooting guard is coming off a strong junior campaign in which he averaged 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, earning second-team All-EKL honors and all-state honorable mention. Peters, a 3-year starter was a key catalyst in St. James’ sub-state title run before the Thunder fell to Bonner Springs in the championship. Across his career, Peters has been a model of consistency, averaging 13.4 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists while collecting All-EKL and all-state recognition twice. 
 

IAN PREMER, GREAT BEND

The Notre Dame football signee opted to complete his basketball career for the Panthers before he heads off to South Bend. The state’s top football recruit, Premer is just as dynamic on the basketball court. He earned Top-5 All-State honors in basketball as a junior and led the Panthers to an 18-3 record. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 24.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season. Premer has set Great Bend’s single-season scoring record twice. He entered his senior season with 1,242 career points.

 

DAWSON RUDER, HAYS

The senior post player has earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors in each of the past two seasons. Ruder averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds as a junior. Hays went 13-9 overall and 6-2 in the WAC last season. Ruder was honorable mention All-5A. He was named to the Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout all-tournament team last week as the Indians started their season 2-1.
 

 MEHKI STEPHENS, LANSING

Stephens returns as one of the top emerging guards in the UKC after a breakout sophomore year. The 6-2 playmaker averaged nearly 16 points per game last season and earned Second-Team All-United Kansas Conference honors. Stephens leads a Lansing squad that brings back all five starters for head coach Larry Hogan that finished 6-15 a year ago and adds a key frontcourt boost with 6-7 transfer Deacan Manthe.

 

 
CY STUCKY, MAIZE SOUTH
 
The 6-foot-8 Stucky averaged a double-double last season, scoring 13.6 points and grabbing 10 rebounds per game for the Mavericks, who fell one victory shy of a state tournament berth. With Stucky, now a senior, part of that last season’s all-underclassmen roster, Maize South is looking to return to state for the third time in four years. Stucky, who signed with Washburn in November, led the Mavs in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, and was second in assists a season ago. He was a first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I pick and a third-team All-Class 5A selection. 
 

JAMARI WILLIAMS, KC WASHINGTON

Williams returns for his final season as a 6-foot-3 point guard and the engine of the Wildcats’ attack. Williams is coming off a strong junior campaign in which he averaged 11 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals per game, earning first-team All-Meadowlark League honors and Class 5A honorable mention all-state recognition. A long floor general, Williams helped guide Washington to a 14–7 record last season before the Wildcats fell to St. James in the opening round of sub-state. 
 

MADDOX WILLIAMS, NEWTON
 
Williams and his Railer teammates had to make a quick preseason adjustment when top returning scorer and rebounder Cole Dillon tore an ACL and was lost for the season. Williams, Dillon’s senior classmate, is now the lone returning starter. He averaged 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists as the Railers went 11-10 and 9-3 in Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II, tying for second. Williams was an all-league honorable mention selection.