Bijai Jones

Free State High

Class: Senior

Sport: Boys basketball

HT: 6-5

The week: Jones was a model of consistency during the Firebirds’ title run at KVOE Tip-Off Classic last week in Emporia. He averaged 11 points a game during their first two wins and played great interior defense. But it was his 14-point, eight-rebound performance in the 58-46 win against Emporia in the championship that stood out. He snagged four rebounds in the fourth quarter, all defensive boards that kept the Spartans from making a run on FSHS. When you do that and make nearly 60 percent of your shots, you’ve come up big.

Comment: “Nobody works harder on their offense than Bijai Jones,” FSHS coach Jack Schreiner said. “Part of it is because he needs to, but he also wants to. And that’s really starting to show.”

Ross Thompson

Ottawa

Class: Senior

Sport: Boys basketball

HT: 6-8

The week: Thompson was a big reason the Cyclones (4-1) won the Goodland Tournament last Saturday. He poured in 28 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and had four blocks in Ottawa’s 71-59 win in the title game against host Goodland — and that was typical for Thompson, who averaged 25.6 points in the three-game tournament and made the all-tournament team. For the season, he’s putting up 24.5 points a game and more than 14 rebounds.

Comment: “He’s gotten enough support so far that he’s not doubled down completely,” Cyclones coach David Grover said. “And I feel like Ross’s best game is ahead of him yet, which sounds crazy for a guy averaging 25 points a game.”