Dorian Green – Lawrence High, Sr.

Green earned All-Area Player of the Year honors by leading Lawrence High in scoring with a 22.6 points-per-game average and finishing among the team’s leaders in four other categories: rebounds, blocks, assists and steals. While guiding the Lions to a 13-9 finish, In addition to being named to All-Area, Green was named the Sunflower League’s Player of the Year.

Lance Kilburn – Lawrence High, Sr.

It’s safe to say that without Kilburn there would have been no Dorian Green. Kilburn joined his senior counterpart in leading the Lions to a 13-9 season while finishing second on the team in scoring and first in rebounding. Kilburn was the Lions’ unsung hero all season, and his ability to score off the dribble and from the outside helped keep other teams honest.

Nick Hassig – Free State High, Jr.

The junior point guard was one of a few bright spots for the Firebirds during a rough season. Despite having next to no varsity experience coming into the year, Hassig quickly proved he belonged, taking charge of the young FSHS team and leading the Firebirds in scoring, three-point shooting and toughness. Some of his best games were reserved for the biggest stages and because of his ability to score and refusal to quit, the Firebirds usually were in games to the end.

Justin Ballock – Eudora High, Jr.

The Cardinals junior guard finished the season as the team’s leading scorer (15 points per game) and was among its leading rebounders, chipping in with 5 rebounds per game. Ballock often drew the other team’s best defender, yet still found a way to pick up points and make plays throughout the season.

Chase Tenpenny – Oskaloosa, Sr.

The Bears’ 6-foot-4 senior had another monster season, finishing with averages of 14 points and 14 rebounds per game. But that only told half the story. Tenpenny was as tenacious on defense and as an enforcer as he was on the offensive end. He leaves Oskaloosa High in 8th place on the all-time leading scorer list with 713 points.

Jamel Townsend – De Soto, Sr.

The Wildcats’ senior led the team with averages of 12 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, putting him just shy of averaging a double-double for the season. Most of the Wildcats’ offense went through Townsend and the senior scorer was also a solid defensive presence for Jim Bonar’s team, which finished the year with a 15-6 record.

Shane Gimzo – Perry-Lecompton, Sr.

The 6-foot-1 PLHS senior followed up his fall football success as the team’s quarterback with a stellar basketball season. A two-time All-Area selection, Gimzo was a leader for the Kaws on offense, defense and in the huddle this winter. His numbers — 12 points per game, 6 rebounds per game and 3 steals a game — were solid but didn’t fully demonstrate what Gimzo meant to the team. In addition to being asked to score and rebound, he often drew the assignment of guarding the other team’s best player.

Andy Bowman – Perry-Lecompton, Sr.

The 6-foot-8 senior broke onto the scene with a monster effort for the Kaws. He finished the year averaging a double-double — 12.6 points and 12 rebounds per game — and played the role of defensive enforcer as well as anyone in the area.

Adam Hasty – Ottawa High, Soph.

Hasty was the highest scorer on the area team that went the farthest, as Ottawa High qualified for the Class 4A state tournament and reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Basehor-Linwood. Hasty finished with averages of 18.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.9 steals per game.

Austin Smith – Tonganoxie, Sr.

Smith, an all-Kaw Valley League first-teamer, nearly averaged a double-double for the Chieftains this season, finishing with averages of 13 points and 9 rebounds per game. He also added nearly two steals per game to his stat line. Also named the Most Inspirational Athlete at the Tonganoxie Invitational and the Channel 6 Hy-Vee High School Scholar Athlete of the Month for February.

Keaton Schaffer – Tonganoxie, Jr.

The 6-foot-2 junior guard was a scoring machine for the Chieftains this winter, averaging 16.4 points per game while chipping in 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game in the process. Like Smith, Schaffer was named first-team all-Kaw Valley League and landed on the all-tourney teams at the Paola Invitational and Tonganoxie Invitational.

Honorable mention: Bobby Davis, Robbie Wright, Marcus Ray, Lawrence High; Eric Watson, Free State High; Jason Lee, Corey Dahl, Santa Fe Trail; Brendon Hudson, Brandan Philbrook, De Soto High; Joel Gantz, Perry-Lecompton High; Michael Bricker, Eudora High; J.T. Thurston, Oskaloosa High: Kevin Barber, Ottawa High; Jeremiah Johnson, Veritas Christian; Bill Gibbs, Skyler Malone, Reed Grabill, Bishop Seabury Academy.