Sophomore of the Year and 2025 Award Winners
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About a week ago, Prep Hoops Kansas posted all-senior and all-junior teams that included Senior and Junior of the Year. Rather than try the same exercise with the class of 2025, we’ll take a look at the sophomores who earned…
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Continue ReadingAbout a week ago, Prep Hoops Kansas posted all-senior and all-junior teams that included Senior and Junior of the Year.
Rather than try the same exercise with the class of 2025, we’ll take a look at the sophomores who earned all-state distinctions from at least two of KSHSAA, Sports in Kansas, the Wichita Eagle and the KBCA:
Sophomore of the Year:
Jaalan Watson Jaalan Watson 5'8" | PG Olathe North | 2025 State KS , 5-foot-8 guard, Olathe North:
Watson gets the nod here because while the other top contenders for this award were at home watching the state tournament, he was making his second trip to the 6A tournament. Equally impressive, Watson was one of the only sophomores at any level to be named to the various all-state teams for the second straight year. This season, Watson was on the KBCA and Sports in Kansas second teams, and on KSHSAA’s third team.
6A
Carter Kaifes Carter Kaifes 6'6" | PF Mill Valley | 2025 State #317 Nation KS , 6-foot-6 forward, Mill Valley:
Prep Hoops’ top-ranked 2025 backed up his stellar freshman year with a fine sophomore season. The big, versatile forward earned second team from Sports in Kansas and third team from KSHSAA and the Wichita Eagle.
2A
Keveon Ruiz, 6-foot-2 forward, Medicine Lodge:
This guy was the top athlete and most capable of creating his own shot on Medicine Lodge’s run to third place at 2A state. He earned second team from Sports in Kansas and third team from KSHSAA by averaging 13.5 points and 5 boards. He scored 34 points in the state tournament.
1A DI:
Ty Romero Ty Romero 6'5" | PG Elyria Christian | 2025 State KS , 6-foot-3 forward, Elyria Christian:
McPherson’s Elyria Christian was really good last season, and Romero was the unquestioned leader after earning all-state honorable mention as a freshman. His 17 points, 6 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals earned him first team from Sports in Kansas and third team from KSHSAA and Wichita Eagle.
Daniel Cramer Daniel Cramer 5'10" | CG Dighton | 2025 State KS , 5-foot-9 guard, Dighton :
Cramer was Watson’s top competition for Sophomore of the Year. The reason he didn’t get the nod over Watson was that Dighton failed to make the state tournament. But Cramer was the most decorated 2025 in terms of all-state honors. He was first team from all four major outlets – KSHSAA, Sports in Kansas, the Wichita Eagle and the KBCA. He was a do-it-all star as a sophomore, averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.
Lincoln Shafer Lincoln Shafer 6'1" | CG Greeley County | 2025 State KS , 5-foot-9 guard, Greeley County
Shafer put his name in the history books when he hit the game-winning three pointer in the state title game as a freshman. He backed that up with a really solid sophomore campaign, averaging 11 points and 3 assists for the repeat champs. He earned second team from KSHSAA, Sports in Kansas and KBCA and third team from the Wichita Eagle.
2025s earning all-state from one of the teams selected by KSHSAA, Sports in Kansas and the KBCA:
4A
Carter Burnett, 6-foot-3 forward, Wellington – second team, Sports in Kansas
2A
Barrett Moddelmog Barrett Moddelmog 6'3" | SG Moundridge | 2025 State KS , 6-foot-3 forward, Moundridge – second team, KBCA
1A Div. II
Luke Albers, 5-foot-11 guard, Cunningham – second team Sports in Kansas
Brandon Schmelzle Brandon Schmelzle 6'2" | PF Axtell | 2025 State KS , 6-foot-2 forward, Axtell – second team, Sports in Kansas
Jamie Sarmiento, 5-foot-7 guard, South Central – third team, KSHSAA