CLASS 6A BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025-26
 

 
LOVELL AUTRY, JUNCTION CITY
 
Autry is a three-year starter for the Blue Jays, stepping into the point guard role his sophomore season. The 5-foot-11 senior is the lone holdover from the Blue Jays’ 2024 trip to the Class 6A state tournament and has earned second-team All-Centennial League honors the past two seasons. Autry averaged 12.5 points and 4 assists per game last year and in his career is averaging 11.7 points and 3.4 assists per game. He’s the lone returning starter off last year’s 14-8 team for first-year head coach Easton Burgardt so Autry could take on an even bigger scoring load this season as the new starters grow into their roles.
 
 

JAKHAI CARTER, MILL VALLEY

Carter enters his final season as one of the Sunflower League’s most experienced and productive returners. The 6-foot-2 guard is in his fourth year as a varsity starter, having begun his high school career at Shawnee Mission West before transferring to Mill Valley as a sophomore. Since then, he’s evolved into the Jaguars’ offensive engine. Carter averaged 14.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last season, earning second-team All-Sunflower League honors along with honorable mention All-State recognition as he helped the Jaguars to the Class 6A state tournament, before falling to eventual state champion, Shawnee Mission Northwest, in the first round. He, along with senior teammate Reece Riedel, will look to lead the Jaguars back to the state tournament. 
 

ALEX CASARES, SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH

Casares has been a cornerstone for Shawnee Mission North, averaging 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2 steals per game last season while shooting 57 percent from the field. Over his career, he has scored 783 points, tallied 172 assists, and collected 96 steals, earning all-Sunflower League honors—Honorable Mention in 2024 and Third Team in 2025. A versatile athlete, Casares also shines on the football field as a 3-year starter and all-league quarterback. His leadership and two-sport success make him one of the top seniors in the Sunflower League. 
 

WILL DAVIS, BLUE VALLEY NORTH

Davis returns as one of the top two-way forwards in the Eastern Kansas League, and the 6-foot-8 small/power forward is set to begin his third year as a varsity starter. Davis emerged as the Mustangs’ focal point a season ago, leading the team in scoring at 14.8 points per game while also pacing North in rebounding (8 per game) and blocks (1.8). He added 3.5 assists per contest, ranking second on the roster. His breakout season earned him first-team All-Eastern Kansas League honors. Davis was also named to the Class 6A all-state third team. Entering his junior campaign, Davis has already compiled 478 career points, 267 rebounds, 125 assists and 60 blocks. 
 

DRAKE DEBAUN, SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH

DeBaun enters the 2025 season with unfinished business. A key piece of the Raiders’ 21–2 run a year ago, DeBaun helped power a group that earned a No. 1 seed and a trip to the state tournament before his season abruptly ended in February due to injury. Now healthy, the versatile forward returns to a roster loaded with expectations — including junior all-state standout Conor Kerrigan — as Shawnee Mission South High School opens the year ranked No. 1 in 6A. Before going down last winter, DeBaun averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds per game, earning second team All-Sunflower League and honorable mention all-state honors. He is also one of the top football players in the state and has committed to Iowa State.  
 

CJ DUSON, BLUE VALLEY NORTH

Duson returns for his third season as a starter, and the Mustangs once again will rely heavily on the steady 6-foot floor general. Duson was one of the Eastern Kansas League’s most consistent backcourt performers a year ago, earning All-Tournament Team honors at both the Shawnee Mission West and Shawnee Mission East events, along with second team All-EKL recognition. He also picked up honorable mention all-state in Class 6A. Duson will team up with fellow returner Will Davis to lead the Mustangs in the EKL. 
 

JAMES FIESER, LIBERAL

A standout receiver for the Liberal football team, Fieser is also the Redskins’ leader on the court. He averaged 15.7 points and 5.4 rebounds last season as a junior. Fieser earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors and was honorable mention All-6A. He scored in double digits in all but two games last season and had a season-high 30 points against Garden City. The Redskins will look to make strides after finishing 3-19 a year ago.

 

CONOR KERRIGAN, SHAWNEE MISSION SOUTH

Shawnee Mission South’s rise to the top of the Class 6A preseason rankings starts with the matchup problems created by Kerrigan, a 6-foot-6 forward whose blend of size and skill made him one of the state’s most dependable young bigs last winter. After posting 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists as a sophomore, Kerrigan returns as the interior anchor of a veteran Raiders squad built for another deep run. He earned Sunflower League Sophomore of the Year, first team all-Sunflower League, and second team all-state honors. He was a driving force behind the Raiders’ 21-2 season and state tournament run. This season, Kerrigan and the Raiders are the No. 1 team in Class 6A. 
 

AYDEN MCGIBBONEY, BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST

McGibboney returns for his third year in the starting lineup, and the 6-foot-3 combo guard is poised to make an impact. McGibboney emerged as one of the Eastern Kansas League’s top two-way performers last winter, averaging 15 points per game while shooting an efficient 50 percent from the field and 82 percent at the free-throw line. He also added five rebounds per contest on his way to first team All-EKL and honorable mention all-state honors as a junior. His offseason didn’t go as planned—an injury ended his senior football campaign early—but McGibboney enters basketball season fully healthy. He helped lead the Huskies to the sub-state championship game a year ago, where they fell to eventual state champion Shawnee Mission Northwest. 
 

BRAYDEN MYOVELA, MAIZE
 
Coming off a standout season at quarterback in which he led Maize to a 10-1 record and the Class 6A state football quarterfinals, Myovela is also the top returning scorer for new head basketball coach Zach Bush. The 6-foot-4 senior averaged 14.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.2 steals last season as the Eagles knocked off top-seeded Shawnee Mission South in the Class 6A state quarterfinals and went on to finish third with an 18-7 record. Myovela had a flair for the dramatic, hitting a buzzer-beating layup in a sub-state victory over Garden City and the game-winning basket in the 49-48 victory over SM South. Myovela earned All-Class 6A second-team honors and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first team. 
 

GAVIN POPIK, OLATHE NORTHWEST

Popik enters his final season as one of the Sunflower League’s most top scorers — and with a chance to make school history. The 6-foot-2 standout has been a starter since his sophomore year and has raised his production every season, jumping from 15 points per game as a sophomore to 19 per game last winter. Popik’s junior campaign earned him second-team all-Sunflower League honors and honorable mention all-state recognition, along with MVP of the De Soto Invitational and a spot on the Valley Center All-Tournament Team. Now, he’s closing in on the 1,000-point milestone and is within reach of becoming the Ravens’ all-time leading scorer. 
 

REECE RIEDEL, MILL VALLEY

The 6-foot-5 guard is a four-year letterman and a three-year starter for the Jaguars, and he returns after earning first-team all-Sunflower League honors and third-team all-state recognition a year ago. Riedel averaged 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season as he helped lead Mill Valley to a state tournament appearance, where the Jaguars fell in the first round to eventual champion Shawnee Mission Northwest. Already committed to play next year at Washburn University, Riedel will again anchor Mill Valley’s offense as he tries to help the Jaguars back to the state tournament along with senior teammate JaKhai Carter. 
 

AVANT RILEY, DERBY
 
Riley played the role of super sub last season for the Panthers, running the point and providing consistent scoring as Derby set a school record for victories in a 21-2 season. Derby graduated five senior starters off that team, but Riley, a 5-foot-10 junior, earned an All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first-team spot after averaging 11.7 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds. Riley pumped in 55 points in three games, including 21 against Piper in the championship, to help Derby win the Dodge City Tournament of Champions. 
 

ENOCH RODRIGUEZ, BLUE VALLEY

Rodriguez was a driving force in last season’s 8-0 EKL title run for the Tigers as the 3-year starter averaged 13.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists while earning first team All-EKL honors. His breakout junior season also landed him honorable mention all-state recognition. He was a third team all-EKL pick as a sophomore before elevating to the first team a year later. Now entering his final season, Rodriguez anchors a Blue Valley squad that went 18-4 and reached a sub-state championship last year before falling to eventual 6A runner-up Olathe North. He carries additional momentum after signing to continue his career at Missouri Western University. 
 

 
SIMON ROWLEY, WASHBURN RURAL
 
Rowley has the dubious honor of being named the newcomer of the year in a league twice. He earned the honor in the Meadowlark Conference his freshman year at Atchison. After sitting out his sophomore season after transferring to Washburn Rural, Rowley returned to the court last year and into a starting role for the Junior Blues, earning newcomer of the year honors in the Centennial League. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 13.8 points to lead the Junior Blues in scoring and also added 4.6 rebounds and 2 assists per game. He led Rural to an 18-5 record and a trip to the Class 6A state tournament last year and is one of three returning starters this season.
 

TY SCHECK, DODGE CITY

The shooting guard earned second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors for the Red Demons last season. He’ll look to help Dodge City improve on last year’s 6-15 mark. Jeff Williamson is entering his second season as Red Demons’ coach.
 

 
PARKER SEITHEL, BLUE VALLEY

Blue Valley will again lean on its interior anchor as Seithel enters his third year as a starter, and at 6-foot-10, he remains one of the Eastern Kansas League’s most imposing matchups. Coming off a dominant junior campaign in which he averaged 13 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Seithel earned First Team All-EKL honors and helped Blue Valley capture the league title with an 8-0 record. He was a key piece in last year’s 18-4 finish and sub-state championship run before the Tigers fell to eventual state runner-up, Olathe North. Seithel, who has signed to play next season at Lindenwood University, is expected to again be one of the focal points for the Tigers. 
 

SAM SIMMONS, OLATHE NORTH

The 5-foot-10 point guard is on pace to become Olathe North’s all-time leader in steals, as he averaged 11 points, 4 assists and 3.5 steals per game last season while earning second-team All-Sunflower League and honorable mention all-state honors — all while powering the Eagles to a state runner-up finish. Simmons committed to Richmond University over offers from Tennessee and Missouri State, and now steps into his senior season as the heartbeat of an Olathe North team with championship expectations once again as the Eagles try to take that next step.
 

JALIHN TIMMONS, WICHITA HEIGHTS
 
As Heights transitions to a new head coach in Gary Thomason – who served as an assistant to now-retired Joe Auer – Timmons provides a steadying force for the Falcons. The senior guard averaged 14.5 points and shot 35% from 3-point range last season as Heights finished 21-4 and fourth place in Class 6A. The lone underclassmen in Heights’ starting lineup last winter, Timmons was a second-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League selection after helping Heights win the league title. He also earned All-Class 6A honorable mention. 
 

BRENDAN WALSH, BLUE VALLEY

Walsh, the Tigers’ point guard, enters his second year as a starter already carrying the résumé of a seasoned veteran. The 6-2 floor general is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign in which he averaged 14.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from three and 51.4 percent from the field. Walsh swept top honors a year ago, earning Eastern Kansas League MVP, first team All-EKL and first team 6A all-state recognition as he helped guide the Tigers to an 18-4 season and undefeated league campaign. Walsh helped the Tigers to the sub-state championship, where they fell to eventual state runner-up in Olathe North.