Playoff Players to Watch – Big Schools

<p>Playoffs are now in full swing. Here are some of the big school players to keep your eye on:</p> <p>6A:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="730611" first="Alston" last="Mason"], senior, Blue Valley Northwest:</p> <p>He gets a ton of attention, but he deserves it. The guy is a defense wrecker and matchup nightmare. He is the leader of the best team in the state. Blue Valley Northwest won’t have to face Shawnee Mission South, which entered the playoffs the #6 ranked team in 6A. They were knocked off by Blue Valley.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="891898" first="Aidan" last="Shaw"], junior, Blue Valley:</p> <p>For a matchup of superstars, Friday is the night. Shaw and his group are just 10-10, but bring some momentum and the chance to knock off the top dog, Blue Valley North. Shaw is a jumping jack who can play every spot on the floor and has the kind of athleticism few can match. He is averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds, and is swatting 3.5 shots per contest.</p> <p>5A:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1070200" first="Josh" last="Jordan"], senior, Salina South:</p> <p>It’s always sad when top teams face each other in sub-state. Sadly either Hays, ranked #1 in 5A, or Salina South, #2 in 5A, will be going home after they face each other Friday. Jordan is a really versatile and established guard who teams with [player_tooltip player_id="602156" first="Devon" last="Junghans"] to form one of the best backcourts in the state. Jordan is solidly built, strong and quick with the ball, and is cool at all times. He’s a great rebounder and distributes the ball well.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1134422" first="Marque" last="Wilkerson"], senior, Topeka West:</p> <p>Let’s see just how far Wilkerson’s Cinderella story will go. The guy was a reserve a year ago, and not considered a top player on his team, much less the state. But he led the city in scoring at 17 per game, and is dynamite as a point/forward. He can handle the ball and direct the attack, but he often lines up at the foul line to distribute the ball and break down defenses from the inside. He gets to the goal effortlessly. The Chargers got a scare from Newton and now have to face rival Seaman.</p> <p>4A:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="889463" first="Max" last="Alexander"], senior, Buhler:</p> <p>Buhler had a pretty easy road to state, and now just must get past Alexander’s old team, McPherson. Alexander is a score-first point guard who is really tough in the open floor and a threat to pull up to trigger from anywhere on the court. He has great vision, the heart of a killer and every move in the book.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>