Kyle Grill and Jacob Hanna of Maize were voted the Wichita Large School Boys Basketball Players of the Year. Both received nearly 9,000 votes and combined for over 58 percent of the overall vote.
Grill was voted first team All-VYPE Wichita Large School, while Hanna was voted to the second team.
“It means a lot knowing you can win a prestigious award alongside one of your closest friends,” Hanna said. “I know the work Kyle puts in and he definitely deserves the recognition he is receiving. There are a ton of great players in Wichita and I am honored to be recognized as VYPE Co-POY.”
Hanna averaged 12 points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists per game, while shooting 64 percent from the floor and 40 percent from behind the three-point line. Grill averaged 11 points, four rebounds, four assists per game, while shooting 50 percent from three and 80 percent from the free throw line.
Both players were vital contributors on Maize’s 5A championship.
“There aren’t too many better feelings than this,” Grill said of being a state champion. “It almost doesn’t feel real to be known as the 5A state champions. As a kid, I dreamed of this my whole life and it is something you look forward to every single day.”
Grill and Hanna both expressed their willingness to sacrifice statistics to improve on defense, as well as being leaders for the Eagles.
“I think this year defensively is where I really shined, I took pride in that end of the court,” Hanna said. “Regardless of how my offensive game was going I know that I can impact the game defending and rebounding.”
“I had to learn to be able to guard positions 1-5 and do it well,” Grill said. “I am the point guard so I had to be able to handle pressure and get the team into an offense. When you have a team full of threats, not every game is going to be about one guy.”
