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

PAYTON BLUE, EISENHOWER
 
Eisenhower returns all five starters from its 2024-25 team including Blue, a 5-foot-8 senior who averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. The Tigers won just six games, but lost six others by seven points or less. Blue earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II second-team honors and All-5A honorable mention. She heads a team this season that notched convincing early-season victories over Campus and Wichita Northwest.
 

BELLA BOUDDHARA, ANDOVER
 
After making an impact as a freshman on a team with multiple Division I prospects, Bouddhara continued to advance her game last season. She helped Andover post a 23-2 record and its second consecutive third-place finish in 5A, averaging 17 points, 3 assists, 2.4 steals and 3.6 rebounds. Bouddhara was selected as the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II player of the year and earned first-team All-5A honors after leading the Trojans on an unbeaten run to the league title. Andover went 47-3 in the combo guard’s first two seasons. 
 

LAILA BOYLAN, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Boylan returns as one of Kansas’ top all-around guards, a 5-foof-10 point guard who has already started both of her varsity seasons and played a key role in the Saints’ run to yet another title. Boylan is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign in which she averaged 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals per game, earning 5A all-state honorable mention and second team All-EKL honors. Most importantly for Aquinas, Boylan enters the year with postseason experience. She helped guide the Saints to their eighth state championship in the past nine seasons. She is also drawing a lot of interest on the recruiting trail as she has multiple Division I offers, including Kansas and Nebraska.  
 

LAYLA BROWN, LEAVENWORTH

Brown returns this winter looking to build on a strong freshman debut. Brown burst onto the scene last season, earning second-team All-United Kansas Conference and honorable-mention all-state honors. while emerging as one of the Pioneers’ most complete two-way players. She averaged 11.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a freshman, showcasing her versatility. She will be joined by another sophomore in Mya Huewitt as she averaged 9.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game as the Pioneers look to rebound from their 7-14 season with a young core of players. 
 

 
KAYLEE BRUNTON, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Brunton, a senior, is part of a core group of returning players who helped Maize South reach the Class 5A state tournament for the fourth time in seven years. The 6-foot forward averaged 9.5 points and 7 rebounds for the Mavericks, whose 19-4 season ended with a quarterfinal loss to Spring Hill. Brunton was one of five underclassmen on the six-person All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first team. She also earned All-5A honorable mention as Maize South finished second in AVCTL I.
 

ZOEY BUCKNER-FRANKLIN, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
A change of teams did little to slow Buckner-Franklin’s impact on the court in her sophomore season. The Wichita Independent transfer averaged 23.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Crusaders, helping them post a 16-6 record. The 5-foot-7 point guard earned All-Class 5A second-team and All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first-team honors. That came after Buckner-Franklin led Independent to the Class 2A title as a freshman, when she averaged 22.5 points and scored 16 in the state final against Riverside. Buckner-Franklin earned All-2A first-team honors in her debut season.
 

 
PEARMELLA CARTER, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
The reigning player of the year in the Meadowlark Conference, Carter won’t be claiming that honor this season. Carter has transferred from Highland Park to Shawnee Heights after leading the Scots in scoring each of the past two seasons. Last year, the 5-foot-10 Carter fell just shy of averaging a double-double, going for 19.8 points per game and grabbing 9.6 rebounds per contest. She also added 3.7 steals and 2.1 assists and shot better than 50% from the floor. The first-team all-league and honorable mention All-Class 5A selection joins a Heights team that returns its top-two scorers and also added Topeka West transfer Imani McGlory. 
 

KINLEY CHRISTOPHER, BASEHOR-LINWOOD

Christopher is back for her senior season to help lead Basehor-Linwood. The 6-foot senior, now entering her third year as a starter, averaged 11.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game last year, earning honorable mention all-state and second team United Kansas Conference honors. Christopher will be a key piece as the Bobcats aim to improve on last season’s 10-11 record. She’ll be joined in the starting lineup by fellow returning all-league player Delaney Wittkop. Next year, Christopher is set to continue her basketball career at Johnson County Community College. 
 

ALEX CROUSE, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Crouse enters her final season with the Saints carrying a decorated résumé and aiming to add one more trophy to it. The 5-foot-8 guard has been a fixture in the Aquinas lineup since the moment she arrived, starting all four years and emerging as one of the state’s elite scorers. She’s coming off a standout junior campaign in which she averaged 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game, earning first-team All-5A and All-EKL honors. Crouse has already cemented her college future by signing with Stephen F. Austin, but her focus remains squarely on leading Aquinas to yet another deep postseason run. She played a pivotal role in last year’s state title — the program’s eighth in the last nine seasons — helping the Saints defeat Seaman in the championship game and securing her second state crown. 
 

 
KK EMMOT, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
Emmot burst onto the scene as a freshman in the 2023-24 season, averaging 13.5 points per game in her debut season. Last year, the 5-foot-8 sophomore guard was even better, raising her scoring average to 17.1 points per game. She also was a facilitator for the T-Bird offense, dishing out 3.2 assists while also collecting 5 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Emmot led Heights to the sub-state finals where the T-Birds fell to United Kansas Conference rival Piper to end a 14-8 season. Emmot was a first-team all-league selection and third-team All-Class 5A pick and will have plenty of firepower around her this year as Heights has added the leading scorers from Highland Park (Pearmella Carter) and Topeka West (Imani McGlory) as well as previously home-schooled six-footer Sami Baum.
 

PAITYN FRITZ, SALINA SOUTH
 
Fritz’s multi-sport talents extend to the basketball court, where she earned first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I honors and All-5A honorable mention last season after averaging 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds for the Cougars, who finished 10-11. A UNLV softball signee, Fritz is one of four returning starters along with seniors Brooklyn Jordan, Brylee Moss and Elle Barth. The 6-foot-2 Fritz, also a first-team all-league selection in softball and volleyball, averaged 15 points in the Cougars’ 3-1 start this season. 
  

 
MADDIE GRAGG, SEAMAN
 
Gragg has been a big part of Seaman’s runs to the Class 5A championship game each of the past two seasons, including a state championship in 2024. A starter since her freshman year, Gragg was a strong scoring complement to All-State Top 5 selection Anna Becker all three of her previous seasons and averaged 13.3 points per game last year. With Becker and every other starter from last year’s runner-up team having graduated, Gragg will take over as Seaman’s primary scoring threat this season. She already is a three-time first-team All-United Kansas Conference selection and was third-team All-Class 5A last year. Gragg is 98 points away from 1,000 in her career and 56 rebounds away from 400, averaging 4.3 boards a game last year.
 

MIA HANSEN, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Hanson, a 5-foot-10 guard and four-year varsity starter, returns this winter as the steadying presence of a Timberwolves team aiming to take the next step after last year’s sub-state championship loss to Spring Hill. Hanson averaged 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game as a junior, earning all-EKL third team and all-state honorable mention honors — her second career all-state recognition. She will be joined in the starting lineup with her sister, sophomore Macy Hanson. She is also a multi-sport athlete in the spring (track and swim) 
  

ISLA HERMAN, SPRING HILL

Herman enters her final season as one of the Frontier League’s most reliable scoring threats — and with a milestone in clear view. The 5-foot-9 shooting guard begins the year at 789 career points, well within reach of the 1,000-point mark she set as a personal goal. A three-year starter, Herman is coming off a breakout junior campaign in which she averaged 17.1 points and 5.2 rebounds, earning first team Frontier League and all-state honorable mention honors. She has steadily climbed each season, progressing from 4.2 points per game as a freshman to 12.9 as a sophomore before emerging as one of the league’s top scorers last winter. Herman helped guide the Broncos to a 20-5 season and a fourth-place finish at the state tournament, and she is one of just two returning starters from that run. She has also committed to Missouri Valley College. 
 

FAITH MCCALLOP, PIPER

McCallop is back as the Pirates’ starting point guard for her second season in the role, bringing experience and scoring punch to the court. The 5-foot-5 playmaker averaged 16.9 points, 4.1 steals, and 4 assists per game last year, earning UKC first-team all-conference and second-tam All-5A honors. The Piper senior, who transferred from Bishop Miege after her sophomore year, has already scored 756 career points and helped lead Piper to a state tournament appearance last season, falling in the first round to eventual runner-up Seaman. The Pirates will look to lean on her leadership and scoring ability as they aim for another deep postseason run. 
 

 
AVERY MCCORRY, BISHOP CARROLL
 
McCorry enters her final high school basketball season before heading off to Washburn, where she was the lone Kansan in the Ichabods’ four-player signing class. She averaged 13 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.8 steals as a junior, helping Carroll post a 16-6 record with a sub-state final loss to Andover. McCorry, a first-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League selection, has been a contributor since her freshman season, when the Golden Eagles reached the Class 5A title game. The 5-foot-10 McCorry earned first-team all-state honors in soccer last spring as Carroll was the unbeaten 5A champion.
 

 
IMANI MCGLORY, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
The leading scorer for Topeka West last year, McGlory has transferred to a USD 501 district rival for her senior year. A three-year starter for the Chargers, McGlory averaged 15.5 points, 3.2 assists and 3.6 steals last season on her way to earning second-team All-United Kansas Conference and honorable mention All-Class 5A honors. Her presence gives Heights three players who led their team in scoring a year ago with KK Emmot returning for the T-Birds and Highland Park’s Pearmella Carter also transferring in this season.
 

GRACE OSTMEYER, SALINA CENTRAL
 
Ostmeyer was one of two underclassmen on the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II first team last season, joining league MVP Bella Bouddhara of Andover. The 5-foot-9 Ostmeyer, now a junior, helped the Mustangs post a 10-11 record by averaging 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2 steals. Ostmeyer also earned All-5A honorable mention, and returns along with senior Lexie Guerrero, who earned all-league honorable mention.
 

JANYA RICHARDSON, SCHLAGLE

Richardson returns as one of the top players in the Meadowlark Conference this season. The 5-4 junior guard earned first team All-Meadowlark honors a season ago and has started all three years for the Stallions. 
 

ELLE ROBINSON, ST. JAMES ACADEMY

Robinson, a 6-foot forward, enters her fourth varsity season as a three-year starter looking to lead the Thunder back to state tournament contention. Last year, Robinson averaged 11 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, earning second team All-Eastern Kansas League and honorable mention all-state honors. She also captured MVP honors at the Tonganoxie Tournament. Robinson, a Benedictine College signee, will share the inside presence with returning sophomore forward Ireland Sullivan, as the Thunder adjust to the loss of leading scorer Regan Becker, who transferred to Blue Valley Northwest. 
 

JENNA SCHMEIDLER, HAYS

What a freshman season it was for Schmeidler, who helped Hays go 22-1 and reach the 5A state tournament for the first time since 1996. The guard averaged 15.9 points, 2.4 assists and 3 steals. She was named to the Hays City Shootout all-tournament team and was most outstanding player at the Colby Orange and Black Classic. Schmeidler was tabbed Western Athletic Conference player of the year and earned second-team honors on the All-5A team. The Indians, who fell to eventual state champion St. Thomas Aquinas in last year’s quarterfinal, graduated a standout guard in Molly Martin but returned several key pieces off last year’s breakthrough team. 
 

JAELA THOMPSON, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Thompson transferred from McPherson last year and helped the Mavericks return to the Class 5A state tournament. The 5-foot-10 junior was strong in the open court, averaging 10.5 points, 5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals for the 19-4 Mavericks. She earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first-team honors, helping the Mavs finish as runners-up to Derby, and was selected All-5A second team. As a freshman, Thompson helped McPherson finish third in 4A, averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds. She earned first-team All-AVCTL III and third-team All-4A for the Bullpups.
 

 
REIANNA VEGA, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
Vega has been Heights’ main post presence for the past two seasons and last year earned second-team All-United Kansas Conference honors. She averaged 11.7 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game while also getting 2.5 assists and 2.4 steals for the T-Birds, who finished 14-8 and as sub-state runners-up. Vega is a three-year starter and will get additional help inside with the addition of Pearmella Carter from Highland Park, who nearly averaged a double-double last year for the Scots. 
 

DELANEY WITTKOP, BASEHOR-LINWOOD

Basehor-Linwood sophomore Delaney Wittkop is back at point guard for her second varsity season after a standout freshman year. Wittkop averaged 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and an impressive 4.5 steals per game last season, earning honorable mention all-state and second-team United Kansas Conference honors. The Bobcats, who went 10-11 last year, will lean on Wittkop’s playmaking and defensive presence, alongside returning all-league forward Kinley Christopher, as they look to make a jump in the standings.