2024s Named to All-State Teams

<p>The KSHSAA and Sports in Kansas All-State teams validated some of the top young players in the state, and brought to light some others. Congrats to all the players who earned some type of honor from this season!</p> <p>Here are the 2024s who were named on one of the All-State teams:</p> <p>6A [player_tooltip player_id="1270090" first="TJ" last="Williams"], 6-foot-4 guard, Wichita Heights:</p> <p>Williams played a very mature role for arguably the best team in the state. Williams doesn’t just rely on his height or natural physical gifts. He doesn’t just look to score. He handles the ball and directs the offense like a point guard, plays on top the zone with great intensity, defends and rebounds at an elite level. He averaged about 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a sophomore, but that doesn’t begin to describe this rising prospect.</p> <p>6A [player_tooltip player_id="1378439" first="Zaxton" last="King"], 6-foot-2 guard, Lawrence:</p> <p>King exploded on the scene this year when Lawrence had to fill some huge voids at the guard spot. King is an elite shooter and natural scorer whose combination of length, quickness and handle are tough to match. He lit it up for 21 points per game as a sophomore.</p> <p>5A [player_tooltip player_id="1270268" first="David" last="Cobin"], 5-foot-10 guard, DeSoto (pictured):</p> <p>We knew Cobin was good when we put him high on the initial rankings last fall. But wow, did this guy impress once he got the opportunity with the DeSoto varsity. He averaged 17 points per game as a sophomore, then exploded in the state playoffs. He led the win against Blue Valley Southwest with 21 points, then had a performance for the ages with 32, including the game winner, against St. James. He's brilliant at starting, stopping, slashing into the lane and getting shots off in traffic.</p> <p>5A [player_tooltip player_id="1270296" first="Mason" last="English"], 6-foot-2 guard, Pittsburg:</p> <p>After he lit up competition last summer, we couldn’t help but question how English’ game would translate to the varsity scene this fall. He passed with flying colors. The big, powerful sharpshooter blitzed defenses for 21 points per game. But he showed he’s not just a shooter. He dished out 5.3 assists as well. The range to English's shot knows know limit, and he's got a powerful, deceptively athletic physique.</p> <p>2A [player_tooltip player_id="1270271" first="Tanner" last="Heckel"], 5-foot-10 guard, Inman:</p> <p>Heckel continues to fly under the radar somewhat at Inman, but he’s a multi-sport star who has gained a ton of respect in his part of the state. He was one of the few 9^th graders to earn state honors last year, and he built on that impressive start as a sophomore. He averaged 17 points, 4 assists and 3 steals this year.</p> <p>2A [player_tooltip player_id="1270299" first="Eli" last="Lawson"], 6-foot-6 center, Bennington:</p> <p>It’s time for Lawson to start getting recognized as one of the best young bigs in the state. He averaged nearly 20 and 10, and was a top shot blocker with 2.9 stuffs a game.</p> <p>1A Div. II [player_tooltip player_id="1270301" first="Peyton" last="Ryan"], 5-foot-9 guard, Central Plains:</p> <p>What a crazy season for the Oilers. They one just one game before playoff time. Then they ripped through substate to qualify for state. Ryan is an ultra-productive guard who handles the ball and directs the action, but still gets 20 points of his own per game. He gets after it at the defensive end with instincts and quick hands, producing 3.9 steals per contest.</p> <p>1A Div. II [player_tooltip player_id="1378446" first="Carson" last="Shimer"], 6-foot-3 forward, Dighton:</p> <p>Shimer should start earning some notice as a double-double machine for Dighton. He did some of everything with 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks per game as well.</p>