2024-25 BOYS ALL-STATE TOP 5 BIOS
CORBIN JOHNSON, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
6-foot-4 senior guard
2024-25
- 480 points (19.2 ppg), 143 rebounds (5.7 rpg), 115 assists (4.6 apg), 53 steals (2.1 spg)
Career
- 1,163 points (12.2 ppg), 510 rebounds (5.4 rpg), 400 assists (4.2 apg)
Worth Noting
Led Kapaun to its second straight Class 5A state championship as Crusaders finished season 22-3. … Scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds in the Crusaders’ 58-55 overtime win over Highland Park in this year’s championship game, including 2 free throws to seal it, and finished the tournament with a double-double in each game, averaging 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. … Averaged 16.3 points per game in the 2024 state tournament, helping Kapaun to the state championship. … Hit 6 3-pointers for 18 points in 62-59 win over Piper in 2024 title game. … Hit game-winning 3-pointer in big regular-season win over Wichita Heights this season. … Also helped Kapaun to runner-up Class 5A state finish in 2023 as sophomore. … Set program record for 3-point percentage in a season that year, shooting 53% from beyond the arc. … Shot 52% from 3 as a junior and 48% from deep this season. … Two-time first-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League selection. … Averaged 15.6 points per game as a junior and just under 12 per game as a sophomore.
Coach’s comment
“He has ice in his veins,” Kapaun coach Steve Eck said. “He has an attitude that if the first shot doesn’t go in, the second one will. He led us throughout the year as far as getting other guys to play better. If Corbin wasn’t shooting the ball well, he was working to get others open and get them the ball in good spots. And he hates to lose almost as much as I do, and he just does whatever it takes to win. Every once in a while, he and I would get into – not into arguments – but go back and forth about this and that, winning and losing and what it takes. He was always spot on.”
IAN PREMER, GREAT BEND
6-foot-6 junior forward
2024-25
- 488 points (24.4 ppg), 230 rebounds (11.5 rpg), 75 assists (3.8 apg), 42 steals (2.1 spg)
Career
- 1,242 points (19.4 ppg), 595 rebounds (9.3 rpg), 193 assists (3 apg), 135 steals (2.1 spg)
Worth Noting
Led Panthers to an 18-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the Class 5A west standings before being upset by Eisenhower in sub-state semifinals. … Led Panthers to undefeated Western Athletic Conference title. … Has led Great Bend to 46-19 mark in three years as starter after program was coming off two straight losing seasons. … Set school record for single-season scoring average as sophomore at 21.2 points per game before breaking it again this year. … Also set school record for single-season field goal percentage (62.6%) as a sophomore before breaking it this year by shooting 65.6% from the floor. … Also broke Panthers’ single-season rebound average record of 10.8 this year. … Helped Great Bend set team records for season field goal percentage each of past two seasons and team defense field goal percentage allowed this season. … Has single-game bests of 32 points (this year vs. Liberal) and 20 rebounds (last year vs. Dodge City). … Is three-time first-team All-WAC selection and was league’s Player of the Year this season. … Not only is one of state’s top basketball recruits, but also is a Division I football recruit and was a Second 11 pick this fall by KSHSAA Covered.
Coach’s comment
“Ian is the type of player that sets the tone every day in practice and games,” Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh said. “His competitive nature and attention to detail make him special and enjoyable to coach. He doesn't want to lose, and our practices are full of energy because all of our guys push each other. After all, Ian leads by example and is such a great teammate. Ian can score on all three levels and is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He can run in transition as a post, wing, or even as our point guard. Defensively, Ian can guard inside and out and will step up to stop the other team's best player. Ian has shown tremendous growth on the court over the past three seasons and I am excited to see what he can do as a senior next year.”
GABE PYLE, MCPHERSON
6-foot-6 senior forward
2024-25
- 525 points (21 ppg), 128 rebounds (5.1 rpg), 58 assist (2.3 apg), 80 steals (3.2 spg)
Career
- 1,186 points (13.3 ppg), 344 rebounds (3.9 rpg), 172 assists (1.9 apg), 190 steals (2.1 spg)
Worth Noting
Led McPherson to its second straight Class 4A state championship as Bullpups topped Rock Creek 53-44 in championship game. … Had 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals in title game and averaged 17.1 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals per game in the tourney. … Hit game-winning shot at the buzzer in overtime to beat Baldwin in the quarterfinals and then hit game-winner in final seconds of double-overtime win over Ottawa in the semifinals. … Also was leading scorer on McPherson’s undefeated 2024 state championship team, averaging xxx. … Tied McPherson’s single-game scoring record with 44 points against Buhler this year, hitting a school-record 11 3-pointers in the game to break Brian Henson’s old single-game 3-pointers made record. … His 80 steals are the fifth-best single-season total and he finished No. 2 on the Bullpups’ career steals list. … Also ranks No. 6 all-time in career scoring and fifth in career blocks with 78. … Was named MVP of McPherson Invitational and MVP of the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail III League each of the past two seasons.
Coach’s comment
“Gabe has one of the highest basketball IQs of any player that I have ever coached,” McPherson coach Kurt Kinnamon said. “He sees the game as it is happening two steps ahead of others. His instincts are off the charts. He is a great teammate that held himself and others accountable to the ultimate goal of winning a state championship.”
JA’COREY ROBINSON, HIGHLAND PARK
6-foot-6 senior guard/forward
2024-25
- 512 points (20.5 ppg), 200 rebounds (8 rpg), 151 assists (6 apg), 88 steals (3.5 spg)
Career
- 1,374 points (15.4 ppg), 721 rebounds (8.1 rpg), 391 assists (4.4 apg), 198 steals (2.2 spg)
Worth Noting
Led Highland Park to top-three finishes at the Class 5A state tournament each of the past three seasons, including a runner-up finish this season as Scots lost to Kapaun Mt. Carmel 58-55 in overtime in the championship game. … Robinson had 26 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists in the title game. … Averaged 19.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals per game at the state tournament this year. … Also led Scots to third-place finishes in 2023 and 2024, averaging 20.3 points per game at the 2024 tournament, and four state appearances overall with Scots falling in quarterfinals in 2022. … Is two-time first-team All-Meadowlark Conference selection and was league Player of the Year as junior and senior. … Helped lead Scots to three straight undefeated league titles and a 71-4 record the past three seasons overall. … Also had 99 career blocked shots. … Has signed with Austin Peay.
Coach’s comment
“His skill set was just out of this world,” Highland Park coach Michael Williams said. “he was always that kid that could dribble, shoot and pass it. He was always a match-up nightmare for other people. If you put him on the perimeter and they went small, he’d post up. Put someone big on him, we’d keep him out there. He was a willing passer, a great handle who could put the ball on the floor and was just unselfish. He loved playing with his teammates and getting the guys around him the ball. When you’re best player is leading you in assists, it makes the guys around him adopt that mindset and he, Mikey (Williams) and Jamon (Wilson) spear-headed that concept. I started coaching Ja’Corey in the second grade and every year up through this year and I got to see the big picture. He went from a kid who would run over his own feet to a complete animal.”
KEATON WAGLER, SHAWNEE MISSION NORTHWEST
6-foot-6 senior guard
2024-25
- 463 points (18.5 ppg), 166 rebounds (6.6 rpg), 105 assists (4.2 apg), 45 steals (1.8 spg)
Career
- 1,105 points (11.8 ppg), 464 rebounds (4.9 rpg), 272 assists (2.9 apg), 100 steals (1.1 spg)
Worth Noting
Led Northwest to its second straight Class 6A state championship this season, the first two state titles in program history. … Posted double-double in this year’s 63-56 win over Olathe North in the championship game with 17 points and 10 rebounds. … Average 14.7 points and 8 rebounds per game at state tourney this season. … Averaged 14.3 points per game at 2024 state tourney as Cougars completed 25-0 undefeated season with a 47-39 win over Wichita Heights in the title game. … Averaged 12.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as a junior. … Hit 45% from 3-point range this season and 57% overall. … Had career highs of 34 points and 15 rebounds in a game. … Recorded a triple double this season vs. Shawnee Mission East with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. … Was 80-16 as a starter, setting program record for wins. … Ranks No. 2 on Cougars’ career assists chart, No. 3 in career steals and No. 4 in both career points and career rebounds. … Led Northwest to two Sunflower League titles and was a two-time first-team all-league selection, earning league Player of the Year honors this season. … Named Gatorade Boys Player of the Year in Kansas, the first Cougar to win the award. … Is a two-time Direnna Award finalist, given to the top player in the Kansas City Metro area. … Is committed to Illinois.
Coach’s comment
“Keaton is such a humble and great leader,” Shawnee Mission Northwest coach David Birch said. “What he meant to our program is immeasurable. Having a player like Keaton changes not just the basketball team, but the school and the community. I couldn’t be happier for him and prouder of him as a player and as a young man.”
GARRETT ROTH, HESSTON
Coach of the year
2024-25
- 24-2, Class 3A state champion
Career
Worth Noting
Led Hesston to Class 3A state championship as Swathers topped Goodland 51-46 in championship game to cap a 24-2 season that saw Hesston go into state tournament as No. 4 seed. … Swathers knocked off undefeated Galena 60-42 in semifinals after surviving Burlington 45-42 in quarterfinals. … Title was fourth in last five years for Swathers with Roth also the head coach for the 2023 championship team that finished the season 25-1. … Took over program from Greg Raleigh, who started run of three straight state titles for Swathers from 2021-23. … Prior to replacing Raleigh, had coached the Hesston freshman team for two years and the middle school C team for two seasons. … Was the 3A Coach of the Year in 2023. … A Hesston alum who played both golf and tennis in college.
Coach’s comment
“At the start, everyone was kind of feeling out what their role would be. We talked a lot in practice about knowing what your role is, and they exemplified their role. It just shows how good of kids we have on this team. They were willing to do whatever it took – whether that was scoring, defending, rebounding, taking charges.
“I heard from a lot of people (impressed) about how everyone knew their role, and that’s what a team is.”