Centennial League Top Guards
Washburn Rural and Topeka High tied for the top of the Centennial League for the second straight year, but it was Highland Park and Manhattan who actually advanced to the state playoffs. The league was guard-heavy, with several of the…
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Continue ReadingWashburn Rural and Topeka High tied for the top of the Centennial League for the second straight year, but it was Highland Park and Manhattan who actually advanced to the state playoffs.
The league was guard-heavy, with several of the teams boasting potent tandems, and three- and four-guard lineups. Here are the league’s top guards in 2020:
Best of the Best:
Elijah Brooks, sophomore, Topeka West:
Brooks is a big, strong and athletic guard who is a matchup nightmare for almost anyone around. He averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds en route to first team all-league honors. If he develops a more accurate outside touch, he’ll be unstoppable.
Best of the Rest:
Juan’Tario Roberts, sophomore, Highland Park:
If Brooks is the best sophomore in the league, then Roberts isn’t too far behind. He came up big in the 5A sub-state playoffs, going for 15 against Leavenworth and 19 against Aquinas to lead the Scots to state. He finished the regular season with a 14.9 average.
Owen Braxmeyer Owen Braxmeyer 6'1" | CG Manhattan | 2021 State KS , junior, Manhattan:
The Indians sputtered down the stretch, but they turned it on come playoff time. The lone junior making a significant impact for the senior-laden Indians, Braxmeyer followed up his 16-point outing against Wichita East with 10 against Wichita West to advance to state.
Trevion Alexander, junior, Topeka West:
Alexander had four games of 20 or more points, and tallied 25 in the Chargers’ playoff win over Bonner Springs. The 6-foot-3 point guard is a longer version of Brooks, with a similar need to develop an outside shot.
Da’Vonshai Harden, senior, Topeka High:
Harden had an enigmatic career that ended with him averaging 12.7 points per game his senior season. He was a leader and a physical mismatch for just about anyone. He could (and would) shoot from anywhere, could rebound with anyone, and at times just overpowered opponents. But his Trojans always seemed to underperform in both football and basketball.
In the Running:
Chris Dixon, junior, Junction City
Skyler Douglas, senior, Emporia
Howard Johnson, sophomore, Junction City
Noah Kruger, senior, Washburn Rural
John Roeder John Roeder 6'2" | CG Hayden | 2020 State KS , senior, Hayden
Jalen Smith, junior, Topeka High
Vicarrio Triplett, junior, Hayden