Leavenworth standout Nino Williams led the all-Sunflower League selections for the Pioneers this season, getting a first-team nod while three of his teammates — Kyle Wiggins, Jarrid Dean and Grant Greenberg — also received recognition.
Williams, who has committed to play basketball at Kansas State University after a year at prep school, was one of five athletes voted to the Sunflower League first team. He’s joined by Olathe South’s Marquis Addison, Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Steven Carver, Olathe East’s Tyler Kalinoski and fellow K-State commit Will Spradling from Shawnee Mission South. The senior averaged 20 points per game this season while shooting 53.8 percent from 2-point range. Williams also averaged 9.3 rebounds per game in his final year at Leavenworth.
Wiggins took a spot on the second team. The junior averaged 11 points per game and shot 46 percent from beyond the arc on the year. The fourth other members of the all-Sunflower League second team are Kaz Boyd from Olathe South, Brennen Newton from Olathe Northwest, Bryce Schippers from Olathe East and AJ Spencer from Shawnee Mission Northwest.
Dean and Greenberg each received honorable mention nods. Dean, a senior, put up nine points per game and shot 81 percent from the charity stripe on the year. Greenberg, a sophomore, scored eight points and pulled down 5.1 rebounds per game for the Pioneers. Other members of the honorable mention list include: Free State’s Josh May and Eric Watson, Lawrence’s Anthony Buffalomeat, Olathe East’s Cody Gafford and Andrew Talbert, Olathe North’s Chris Scruggs, Olathe Northwest’s Tyler Brotz, Olathe South’s Charles McAllister, Shawnee Mission East’s Scott Kennedy, Ryan Olander and Zach Schneider, Shawnee Mission North’s Anthony Rucker, Shawnee Mission South’s Jake Ried, Shawnee Mission West’s Brayden Clark as well as Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Trey Fruehling and Drew Goodger.
Shawnee Mission South’s Spradling was tapped as the Sunflower League player of the year, Olathe Northwest’s Shavon Shields was selected as the sophomore was the year and Schneider from Shawnee Mission East’s was the freshman of the year. Olathe South’s Jim Carr was voted as conference coach of the year.
A third team was also selected and included Shields from Olathe Northwest, Marcus Ray from Lawrence, Brad Foss from Shawnee Mission West, Derek Cole from Olathe South and Dylan Christie from Shawnee Mission South.
Leavenworth finished fifth in the league standings with a 7-4 record in conference play. Olathe East, Olathe South and Shawnee Mission West tied for the Sunflower League regular-season title with 9-2 marks in league play.
