Topeka’s Tournament All-Stars
In this article:
Topeka teams engage in a ‘tournament week’ every year in late January, most notably the Topeka Invitational Tournament. Regardless of which tournament they play in, they take on teams from outside their normal realm to measure themselves against teams from…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTopeka teams engage in a ‘tournament week’ every year in late January, most notably the Topeka Invitational Tournament. Regardless of which tournament they play in, they take on teams from outside their normal realm to measure themselves against teams from around the state.
Though none reached the finals of their tournaments, there were some notable performances last week:
Player of the Week:
Marque Wilkerson, senior, Topeka West:
The 6-foot-1 senior has played outstanding all season long, but he really took it to another level in the Topeka Invitational Tournament. The Chargers won two of three, and Wilkerson was huge in all three. He poured in 27 in a disappointing loss to Shawnee Mission North. He then popped for 22 and 25 against Centennial League rivals Highland Park and Hayden.
MVP:
Isiah Johnson Isiah Johnson 5'10" | CG Shawnee Heights | 2021 State KS , senior, Shawnee Heights:
Shawnee Heights lacks firepower. When Johnson missed the first game of the McPherson Invitational Tournament against Maize South, the T-Birds couldn’t get anything going. When Johnson returned, they knocked off McPherson behind his 22 points. When Johnson struggled against Manhattan, the T-Birds went down in defeat. Johnson has games of 32 and 29 and is the key if the T-Birds are going to pick up more wins.
Top Sixth Man:
Juan’Tario Roberts Juan’Tario Roberts 5'10" | CG Highland Park | 2022 State KS , junior, Highland Park:
Perhaps to shake things up, or to send a message to his talented junior, coach Mike Williams has had Roberts come come off the bench the past several games. Whatever the reason, it has fired up the mercurial guard for Highland Park. The flashy 5-foot-10 veteran known for cutting through defenses to get to the hole has suddenly found his touch from deep. He hit five 3-pointers against Wichita Southeast, five more against Topeka West, and four against Topeka High. He scored 18, 19 and 19 in the three-game set.
Others:
Jalen Smith Jalen Smith 6'2" | SG Topeka High | 2021 State KS , senior, Topeka High:
The Trojans were the only Topeka team to go winless during the week. But Smith shows a lot of pride every night, leading his team into battle and giving his all. The rock-solid 6-foot-2 combo guard performed well in every game, shooting 19-34 from the field and scoring 14, 13 and 17 in the tournament.
Joe Berry Joe Berry 6'4" | CG Washburn Rural | 2021 State KS , senior, Washburn Rural (pictured):
The Junior Blues, ranked #9 in 6A prior to the Basehor-Lindwood Tournament, can’t be happy with going 1-2 last week. But they are building for post season, and they are led by a guy who knows how to get them there. Berry was limited to 9 points by Olathe West, but came back with 17 against both Olathe North and St. Joseph (Mo.) Central.
Kaeden Bonner Kaeden Bonner 6'1" | SG Seaman | 2023 State KS , sophomore, Seaman:
Bonner had two of his best games of the season in the Valley Center January Jam. He scored exactly half the Vikings’ points in a 61-48 loss to Wichita Heights. Next he was the leading scorer in the Vikings’ win over Valley Center with 19. A slow night saw him score 8 against Wichita Northwest.