Eight area players received honorable mention during the most recent Kansas State High School Activities Association All-State basketball team selections.
Iola’s Cortland Carson and Reece Curry made this list, as well as Humboldt’s leading scorer Colden Cook, Marmaton Valley’s top scorer Brayden Lawson, up-and-comers Kole Walter of Crest and Cayton Cummings of Yates Center, as well as seasoned Crest senior Karlee Boots.
Carson topped the list of male honorees after becoming Iola’s career leading scorer in January. He eclipsed 1,000 while assisting in an upset of Anderson County before the end of the regular season and guided the Mustangs to a first-round upset of the higher-seeded Riverton Rams in February.
On the other side of Allen County, Humboldt Cub Colden Cook also received all-state recognition. He also eclipsed 1,000 career points while leading the Cubs to a 15-3 record. Although they made an early exit from the postseason, Cook was also named first-team All-Tri-Valley League.
Another Allen County senior making the All-State cut is Marmaton Valley High School’s Brayden Lawson. Lawson provided some consistency underneath the basket and showcased some touch on the perimeter in timely situations while assisting the Wildcats in a 12-8 record for fourth in the Three Rivers League. Lawson also earned all-league postseason honors in 2024-25.
For Crest freshman Kole Walters, there is plenty of ceiling left before he steps away from the Lancers. Walters worked his way into the starting lineup after displaying early prowess in practice, and continued having a growing role on the team as injuries began piling up. The Lancers ended the season as Three Rivers Conference champions, leading to his All-Conference selection.
Although the Mustangs ended their season much sooner than anticipated, they did not end it without a dogfight from senior forward Reece Curry. Curry, who was Iola’s leading scorer and most reliable post. Curry also received All-Pioneer League honors following the regular season.
The Humboldt Lady Cubs will have a difficult time finding a replacement for their All-State honorable mention in Shelby Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy was a multiple-year starter for the Lady Cubs, wrapping up her senior year as their leading scorer. She also received All-Tri-Valley recognition at the end of the year while assisting her team to a winning record at 13-7 and fourth overall in the TVL.
Yates Center Wildcats fans have plenty to look forward to next season as sophomore Cayton Cummings returns to the roster following a phenomenal 2024-2025 campaign. Along being Yates Center’s leading scorer, and a unanimous vote for All Three-Rivers Conference, Cummings also guided the Wildcats through a tumultuous season.
Rounding out the list is a player of much distinction in Crest senior Karlee Boots. Boots was also a unanimous selection to the All-Three Rivers League team while guiding her team to a league championship as a junior. In fact, the Crest Lady Lancers made it all the way to the state tournament following a substate title with Boots serving as their leading scorer.
