Gridiron to Hardcourt: Basketballers in the Football Top 11

It's not unusual for top Kansas athletes to stand out in more than one sport. Some of the state's best basketball players are also great football players.   We may be at the break of basketball season, but we'll take moment to reflect on the Kansas Football Coaches' Association's recent announcement of the Kansas all-classes Top 11 team for 2022.   Here are five top Kansas basketball players who made the Top 11 (plus one for special recognition):   Mac Armstrong, 6-foot guard, 2023 Miege:   Armstrong was one of three players in the KFCA Top 11 that was listed as a quarterback. He piloted Miege to the 4A championship. He put up some ridiculous numbers, including 42 touchdowns. On the court, Armstrong was a reserve on the Stags team that won state last spring. He's playing a much bigger role this year, quarterbacking the basketball team while he sorts through college football offers.   Cooper Hajek, 6-foot-2 forward, 2023 Nemaha Central:   Hajek was named to the Top 11 as a running back and linebacker. What a season this guy turned in, leading the Thunder to the 2A title. He rushed for over 2,000 yards, scored 42 touchdowns and was a tackling machine. Unfortunately, he had to do a lot of it with a thumb injury that required surgery. We'll see how soon he's able to get on the court. He's a powerful post who is needed to replace all the frontcourt talent the Thunder graduated a year ago.   [player_tooltip player_id='1146270' first='Keller' last='Hurla'], 6-foot guard, 2023, St. Marys:   Another quarterback on the Top 11, Hurla was also listed as a defensive back. The dual-threat QB ran for the winning touchdown with just 13 seconds left in the 1A title game. He recently committed to play football at Washburn, but basketball opponents know exactly what he can on the court. He lights it up from deep and can score in transition and on the drive, averaging 20 points as a junior. The Bears fell to mighty Hillsboro in last year finale, and due to graduations, they'll need a lot from their all-state guard if they're to get back to the tournament.   [player_tooltip player_id='1080188' first='Joe' last='Otting'], 6-foot-3 center, 2023, Hayden:   An offensive lineman and defensive lineman on the Top 11 team, Otting got a lot of publicity for committing in June to his dream school of Notre Dame. But before that, he gained a lot of attention for the performance he put on at the 4A state tournament. Otting led the Wildcats' to a huge upset of Eudora and kept the team in a couple of ensuing tournament games. He can play with tremendous power or with finesse around the basket. He averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds last year and is turning in some big outings as a senior.   [player_tooltip player_id='1454197' first='Tre' last='Richardson'], 5-foot-10 guard, 2023, Highland Park:   This guy is causing nightmares for opponents in multiple sports. He was best known as a champion sprinter. But when Highland Park football was finally given a manageable schedule, Richardson exploded as a nearly untackle-able multi-purpose ball carrier. His stats on the gridiron were video-game worthy. He was a contributor to the 5A state basketball team a year ago, but he's since taken his hoops game to another level. Highlight dunks, steals and rebounds and just some of what he gives the Scots.   Honorable mention:   [player_tooltip player_id='1080176' first='Avery' last='Johnson'], 6-foot-2 guard, 2023, Maize:   The third quarterback on the Top 11 roster, Johnson is the one of the state's highest rated football prospects. He decided to sit out his senior basketball season to jump start his football career at Kansas State. But since he is also one of the top-rated hoopers in Kansas, he deserves one last mention for his basketball skills. Johnson will soon be removed from the Prep Hoops rankings. But make no mistake,  he's one of the best combo guards in the state. Perhaps KSU hoops coach Jerome Tang should make note.   Here's the whole Top 11, which actually included 13:   Mac Armstrong, QB, Bishop Miege; Camden Beebe, OL-DL, Piper; Dylan Edwards, RB, Derby; Cooper Hajek, RB-LB, Nemaha Central; [player_tooltip player_id='1146270' first='Keller' last='Hurla'], QB-DB, St. Marys; [player_tooltip player_id='1080176' first='Avery' last='Johnson'], QB, Maize; Riley Marx, LB-FB, Andale; [player_tooltip player_id='1080188' first='Joe' last='Otting'], OL-DE, Hayden; [player_tooltip player_id='1454197' first='Tre' last='Richardson'], WR-RB-RET, Highland Park; Grady Seyfert, OL-DL, Beloit; Ty Weber, LB, Washburn Rural; Broc Worcester, LB, Mill Valley; Holden Zigmant, DB, Mill Valley.

It's not unusual for top Kansas athletes to stand out in more than one sport. Some of the state's best basketball players are also great football players.