Senior of the Year and all-2023 Teams

All-State and all-league teams are celebrating the best players across the state. For something different, Prep Hoops decided to put together an all-2023 team, including the Senior of the Year.

Doing so was really tough, because by trying to stay true to the actual positions played, we found a bunch of the best players played a similar position – shooting guard/small forward. Thus some of the very best players in the state – Britton Dutton Britton Dutton 6'1" | SG Ellinwood | 2023 State KS , Keller Hurla Keller Hurla 6'0" | CG St. Marys | 2023 State KS and Brian Hawthorne Brian Hawthorne 6'2" | PG St. James | 2023 State KS to name a few – were left off. No disrespect to those guys.

Here’s our best effort at the top three teams:

First Team:

PG – Grant Stubblefield Grant Stubblefield 6'2" | PG Blue Valley Northwest | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-2 guard, Blue Valley Northwest (pictured):

Even with all the talent around him, it was clear that it was Stubblefield’s show at Blue Valley Northwest. He could put the team on his back in the most crucial of moments and will them to victory. He can get to the goal despite what seems like insurmountable opposition, taking it to big, dynamic defenders and getting his shot off. He distributes it from the paint or in transition, and is a bull on defense and on the glass.

SG – Jaxson Brandl Jaxson Brandl 6'2" | CG Greeley County | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-2 guard, Greeley County:

This guy was special. He had two incredible seasons leading the team to back-to-back state titles. He does it all, and racked up incredible stats, including 2,000 points in his career. He is a slick passer who gets his teammates involved. He can push the ball and overwhelm opponents with his size and length in transition. He rebounds and defends and leads.

SF – Jake Proctor Jake Proctor 6'3" | CG Hesston | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-3 forward, Hesston:

What Proctor did this year shouldn’t go overlooked. As essentially the lone returner from a back-to-back 3A champion, he put the team on his back and lifted his production in every area. He averaged 21 points per game as a senior, to go with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. When it looked like Hesston was destined to a rebuilding season, Proctor guided the Swathers to another title.

PF – Tyson Ruud Tyson Ruud 6'5" | SF Basehor-Linwood | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-5 forward, Basehor-Linwood:

Basehor-Linwood didn’t have a great season, but they got hot at the end and reached the state tournament. While he’s an unselfish player, Ruud did all he could to guide the team to success. He can do pretty much everything on the court, and he’s especially dynamic as a rim protector. He can really sky, making highlight plays at both ends that inspire his teammates and fire up the crowd.

C – Will Anciaux Will Anciaux 6'6" | PF Kapaun Mt Carmel | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-6 center, Kapaun:

This guy may have gone a little bit unrecognized this season. He started the year sidelined by an injury, and then blended seamlessly into Kapaun’s talented lineup. Having already committed to play football in college, he wasn’t one of the more talked-about prospects in the state. But there’s a reason why he was, at this time last year, still the #1 ranked 2023 in the state. He can rebound and defend with great power and presence. He has nice skills with the ball in the post and midrange. His combination of physicality, length and ball skills are unique.

Senior of the Year: Grant Stubblefield Grant Stubblefield 6'2" | PG Blue Valley Northwest | 2023 State KS

It was very tempting to give this award to Brandl. The only thing that prevents it is the fact he plays at the very smallest school classification. In contrast, Stubblefield has been a dynamo at the 6A tournament two years in a row and led his team to the championship against a super-talented Wichita Heights team. On the season, Stubblefield did it all – 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and  2 steals per game playing just about the toughest schedule you can in Kansas.

Second Team:

PG – Marcus Zeigler Jr Marcus Zeigler Jr 6'2" | PG Wichita Heights | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-2 guard, Wichita Heights

SG – Ketraleus Aldridge Ketraleus Aldridge 6'4" | SF Highland Park | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-4 guard, Highland Park

SF – Eli Shetlar Eli Shetlar 6'5" | SG Andover | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-6 forward, Andover

PF – Eli Sawyers Eli Sawyers 6'7" | SF Southeast Of Saline | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-7 forward, Southeast of Saline

C – Blake Garrett Blake Garrett 6'7" | PF Blue Valley North | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-7 center, Blue Valley North

Third Team:

PG – Brekyn Ratzlaff Brekyn Ratzlaff 6'0" | PG Hillsboro | 2023 State KS , 6-foot guard, Hillsboro

SG – Ryle Riddlesperger Ryle Riddlesperger 6'2" | PG Hugoton | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-2 guard, Hugoton

SF – Landon Boss Landon Boss 6'1" | SF Osage City | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-1 forward, Osage City

PF – Dylan Werth Dylan Werth 6'8" | PF TMP | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-8 forward, TMP

C – Tyler Little Tyler Little 6'5" | PF Galena | 2023 State KS , 6-foot-5 center, Galena