Summer Sneak Peak – Topeka Update Continued

Last weekend, three Topeka schools got together for a series of scrimmages. We covered those three schools – Highland Park, Topeka High and Topeka West – in a feature on Monday. Let’s pick up the theme by taking a mid-summer look at the other schools in the Capital City.

Hayden:

A year removed from a state-tournament run, the Wildcats appear to have lost a ton from the team that went 12-12 last year. The big loss, obviously, is the loss of coach Dwayne Paul, who moves to Free State. Hayden turns the reins over to Trey Brown, a Shawnee Heights grad who coached Cair Paravel last season.

Graduation brings the illustrious end of Joe Otting‘s career. An all-state candidate on the hardwood, he now moves on to the Notre Dame gridiron. The Wildcats also bid farewell to warrior Jake Muller, a multi-sport star and quiet leader.

Making matters much worse, 2026 Ayden McGibboney Ayden McGibboney 6'3" | SF Blue Valley Northwest | 2026 State KS is moving to Kanas City for his sophomore year. He was a talent to build around in the future. Senior guard Mister Cameron Mister Cameron 6'1" | PG Hayden | 2024 KS practiced with Highland Park in the recent scrimmages, so he is apparently no longer a Wildcat either.

The Wildcats return some nice guards in Jacob Padilla Jacob Padilla 5'7" Hayden | 2024 KS , Dominik Ridley and Jacob Deister Jacob Deister 6'0" | SG Hayden | 2025 KS . But Coach Brown will have some rebuilding to do.

Washburn Rural:

Nearly every team in the city was hit hard by graduation. Though Washburn Rural loses all-state guard Jack Bachelor, they actually may return the most talent of any school in town. They lose a couple of solid forwards in Wyatt Conklin and Jacob Hirschi. But there’s a lot of talent returning.

Leading next year’s group should be a solid guard tandem of Amare Jones Amare Jones 6'0" | PG Washburn Rural | 2025 State KS and Kaden Ballard Kaden Ballard 5'11" | CG Washburn Rural | 2025 State KS . Those two combined for 12 points and 4 assists as sophomores. They will spend a lot more time on the court together next season. Size and power will be found in some combination of JC Heim, Griffin Durst and Max and Sam Bettis.

Shawnee Heights:

Returning the best one-two punch in the city is Shawnee Heights. Brennon Dodge Brennon Dodge 6'1" | CG Shawnee Heights | 2024 State KS and Jaret Sanchez Jaret Sanchez 6'3" | SF Shawnee Heights | 2025 State KS (pictured) are capable of scoring from anywhere and will give the T-Birds some serious firepower. Add in senior Jayden Holly, a 6-foot-3 forward who really crashes the boards, and you have a nice nucleus to build around.

A player to watch for the T-Birds is 2026 Ontarius Emmot Ontarius Emmot 6'3" | SF Shawnee Heights | 2026 State KS , a big guard who really impressed in spring action.

Seaman:

The Vikings had a really nice senior tandem in Kaeden Bonner and Aron Davis, but both experienced some injury issues in their final season. A new crop will have to step into those roles. Also departing is wing Jalen Freeman Jalen Freeman 5'10" | PG Seaman | 2024 KS who practiced with Topeka High at the weekend’s scrimmage.

Look for 2026 Kaevon Bonner to step into his brother’s leadership spot. As a freshman he contributed 8 points and 2 boards, and that production will certainly increase. Braden Chapman and Bryar Finley will have the opportunity to step up as well.

Cair Paravel:

Cair Paravel showed two seasons ago it can put together a state-caliber basketball team. But now the Lions will start with a new coach after Brown took the Hayden job. They hired Chip Kueffer this summer to lead the program. We don’t know a lot about the Lions after they struggled to an 8-12 mark last season other than that they return second-team all-league pick Evan Will.