5A Ticket-punching Performances

It’s official. These guys helped their teams to the 5A tournament: Elijah Brooks Elijah Brooks 6'2" | CG Topeka West | 2022 State KS , junior, Topeka West: West barely got by rival Seaman 55-52. There were some really good seniors in this game, but the juniors are really good too, led by the 6-foot-2 guard Brooks and Ty Henry Ty Henry 6'3" | SG Seaman | 2022 State KS of Seaman. Brooks hit 9-13 from the field and had a game-high 22, topping Henry’s 20. Brooks is an elite athlete who can get to the rim at will and is so explosive in the open court. Javon Grant Javon Grant 5'11" | PG Pittsburg | 2021 State KS , senior, Pittsburg (pictured): Wow, is the senior point guard unstoppable. He wrecked Spring Hill with 41 points in a 82-52 ticket-punching performance. The 5-foot-11 senior is just too quick and explosive for the opposition. The crazy thing is that such a scoring output isn’t rare for this whirling dervish. Enrique Lankford Enrique Lankford 6'5" | CG Bishop Carroll | 2021 State KS , senior, Carroll: The 6-foot-5 guard/wing set the tone with 10 points in the first quarter in Carroll’s win over Andover. There were so many good players in this game, but Lankford stood out with a game-high 18 points. He’s got the length and athleticism to do so many things, and he’s got the skill to shoot it from deep, handle the ball under pressure, and to find teammates with the ball. Jace Linenberger Jace Linenberger 6'6" | C Hays | 2022 State KS , junior, Hays: The 6-foot-6 junior led Hays to the state tournament with 20 points despite foul trouble against Salina South. The #1 ranked Indians have a deep and talented group, with Linenberger the top option. The long, agile big moves well without the ball and has good hands and can make a variety of plays at both ends. He averaged 15.8 points and 7.5 boards this season.