photo by: Journal-World Sports Staff

The Journal-World All-Area Teams.

Coach of the Year: Don Blanchat, Baldwin

photo by: Contributed

Donald Blanchat

Blanchat led the Bulldogs to the school’s first 4A state championship with a 22-6 overall record. After a 2-4 stretch in the middle of the season, Baldwin finished on a 10-game win streak that included beating two previously undefeated teams in the semifinal and state championship game.

Player of the Year: Cooper Carr, Baldwin

Cooper Carr

Carr was the leader for the Baldwin boys basketball team this year, but Carr’s influence on the team extends beyond just this past season. He finished his Baldwin career as a first-team all-state player three times and won the 4A Player of the Year award this season. He averaged 18 points a game and scored over 1600 career points, while capping it all off with a state title.

Brendan Barrett, Free State

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State guard Brendan Barrett surveys the court during the game against Shawnee Mission Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Shawnee.

Barrett stepped into an elevated role in his sophomore year and flourished with the Firebirds. Barrett became a consistent shot maker and playmaker for others and earned third-team all-Sunflower League honors.

Joey Dooley, Lawrence

Joey Dooley

Dooley averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game in his sophomore year. He led the Lions in scoring and rebounding and was voted third-team all-Sunflower League.

Houston Habiger, Perry-Lecompton

Houston Habiger

Habiger helped the Kaws to an 18-8 record this season by averaging 17 points and five rebounds per game. He knocked down 61 3-pointers this season while earning second-team all-Big East honors.

Jace Hoffman, Bishop Seabury

Jace Hoffman

Hoffman set a school record for career points at Bishop Seabury while averaging the seventh-most points per game in the state at over 20 points per game. Hoffman was the Kaw Valley Conference Player of the Year and was part of the first-team all-Kaw Valley Conference team.

Lachlan McRae, Tonganoxie

Lachlan McRae

McRae finished his senior season averaging over 17 points per game with just under four assists and rebounds per game. McRae was a four-year starter for the Chieftains, as well as a leader both on and off the court.

Cash Schneider, Eudora

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Eudora sophomore Cash Schneider takes a breath before shooting a free throw in Eudora’s quarterfinal loss to Rock Creek on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Salina.

Schneider averaged 17 points per game with over five rebounds for Eudora, leading the Cardinals in scoring. Schneider’s ability to efficiently shoot from anywhere on the court helped the Cardinals have a deep postseason run.

Leo Schoenberger, Baldwin

Leo Schoenberger

Schoenberger was the go-to scorer for Baldwin’s state championship team, as he averaged 20 points per game. That led to all-league and all-state honors, and the forward finished his career second in career rebounds at Baldwin.

Quintin Taylor, Bishop Seabury

Quintin Taylor

Taylor averaged 16 points per game for Bishop Seabury as a freshman and only scored under 10 points once. He earned first-team all-Kaw Valley Conference honors for his role as the team’s point guard and offensive facilitator.

Sy Thomas, Eudora

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Eudora sophomore Sy Thomas dribbles the ball in Eudora’s quarterfinal loss to Rock Creek on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Salina.

Thomas averaged 16 points and two steals a game for Eudora, en route to earning second-team all-Frontier League honors. Thomas was a big-time shot maker all year, including a half-court buzzer-beater to beat Ottawa.

Honorable Mention: Colton Collum, Baldwin; Kenyon Doleman, Lawrence; Easton Graves, Perry-Lecompton; Colby Krein, Perry-Lecompton; Bennett Nagel, Free State; Ryan Osburn, Eudora; Eddie Roman Nose, Lawrence; Marion Stubbs, Bishop Seabury; Jackson Wheeler, Baldwin.