The DiRenna Awards are the best honor in Kansas City prep basketball

Grain Valley’s Grace Slaughter and Staley’s Kyan Evans won the 2023 DiRenna Awards on Thursday night as the top boys and girls high school basketball players in the Kansas City metro.

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The awards ceremony was held at Truman High in Independence.

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A three-time DiRenna Award finalist who led her Grain Valley team to a 23-5 record and Suburban White co-championship, Slaughter set a school record for career points with 2,575 and this season averaged 27.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

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Slaughter, a 6-foot-2 guard, is the first Grain Valley player to win the DiRenna Award. The Gatorade Girls Player of the Year for the state of Missouri, she will suit up for Mizzou next season.

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Evans, a 6-1 guard, is a two-time DiRenna finalist who helped lead his Falcons team to a 30-2 record and the Missouri Class 6 state championship. The Missouri Gatorade Boys Player of the Year averaged 13.2 points, 4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals during the 2022-23 season.

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Evans holds career school records for points and assists and will play for Colorado State next season. He is the first Staley player to win the DiRenna Award.

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The DiRenna Award for boys players has been around since 1954. It was created by Kansas City physician James DiRenna Sr., and continues to be administered by his son, Dr. James DiRenna Jr., and the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association, or GKCBCA. The girls DiRenna Award was added in 1997.

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Last year’s boys winner, Aidan Shaw from Blue Valley, now plays basketball for the Missouri Tigers. The 2022 girls winner, Beatrice Culliton from St. Thomas Aquinas, now plays at Oklahoma. (Continue reading below for the full list of past winners.)

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How to catch the taped show

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KSHB-41 will rebroadcast the DiRenna Awards show three times: Saturday, April 8 at 8 p.m. on KMCI-38 The Spot; Sunday, April 9 at noon on KSHB-41; and Sunday, April 23 at 11 a.m. on KSHB-41.

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Other boys finalists

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Kayden Fish, Staley: Fish played a key role during the Falcons’ state-title season. He averaged 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds and eclipsed 1,000 points for his career. He’ll be heading to Iowa State to continue his playing career.

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Isaia Howard, Plattsburg: Led his team to a 31-1 record and owns the school record for career points, with 1,969. Just a junior, he returns to Plattsburg next season.

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Zaxton King, Lawrence: Averaged 24.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while leading his team to a second-place finish in the Sunflower League. Was the league’s player of the year this past season as a junior.

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Grant Stubblefield, Blue Valley Northwest: A two-time DiRenna finalist who led his team to a 21-4 record and the Kansas 6A state title. Averaged 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, including 27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in three state-tournament games. Will play for the University of Omaha next season.

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Other girls finalists

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Jaliya Davis, Blue Valley North: Led her team to a 21-4 record and the Kansas Class 6A state championship, averaging 20 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. Only a sophomore, Davis returns to BV North next season.

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Mariyah Noel, Bonner Springs: Led her team to 17 wins this season while averaging 28 points per night and racking up several regular-season and career school records (including most field goals in a game, 17, most free throws in a game, 14, and career points: 1,350). She will continue her career at the University of Mississippi.

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S’Mya Nichols, Shawnee Mission West: This two-time DiRenna Award finalist averaged 19.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 4.1 steals per game this season. She scored a total of 1,208 points during her prep career and was a member of the US 18 National Team in 2022. She’ll play for KU next season.

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Jadyn Wooten, Blue Valley: Led her team to a 16-9 mark and averaged 20 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2 steals per game. Her school records include most points in a season (501), most points in a career (1,259), career assists (306) and career steals (166). Just a junior, she has made a verbal commitment to Oklahoma State.

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DiRenna All-Stars play Friday

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The annual DiRenna All-Star Games will be played Friday evening at Avila University. The girls game tips at about 6 p.m., with the boys game following around 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door: $5 for students and senior citizens (60+) and $10 for adults. There will be a dunk contest at halftime of the boys game.

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The All-Star Games will be broadcast live on 810varsity.com.

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A few more awards…

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In other awards handed out Thursday evening, Darwin Rold won the Tom Colwell Lifetime Achievement Award and Lewis Smith took home the Walt Tylicki Memoriał Award.

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The 2023 GKCBCA Hall of Fame inductions included Kimberly Scoggin-Bush, Quinton Day and Marcus Walker.

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Aaron Ihm of Blue Valley Northwest and Chris Neff of Staley won the Eddie Ryan boys coaching awards; Elyseia Dunn of Raytown and Jeff Dickson of Lawrence won the Eddie Ryan girls coaching awards.

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Past DiRenna winners

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GIRLS

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2023: Grace Slaughter, Grain Valley

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2022: Beatrice Culliton, St. Thomas Aquinas

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2021: Payton Verhulst, Bishop Miege

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2020: Payton Verhulst, Bishop Miege

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2019: Chandler Prater, North Kansas City

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2018: Chandler Prater, North Kansas City

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2017: Abby Hipp, St. Pius X

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2016: Morgan Fleming, Liberty

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2015: Tyler Johnson, Leavenworth

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2014: Becca Jonas, Truman

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2013: Lizzy Wendell, Blue Springs

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2012: Emiah Bingley, Lee’s Summit West

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2011: Natalie Knight, Olathe South

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2010: Natalie Knight, Olathe South

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2009: Morgan Johnson, Platte County

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2008: Taber Spani, Metro Academy

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2007: Danielle Adams, Lee’s Summit

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2006: Morgan Henderson, Notre Dame de Sion

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2005: Keisha Walker, Hickman Mills

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2004: Erneisa Bailey, Pembroke Hill

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2003: Erneisa Bailey, Pembroke Hill

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2002: Claire Coggins, Lee’s Summit North

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2001: Christie Brown, Lee’s Summit North

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2000: Tracy Lozier, Blue Valley North

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1999: Tracy Lozier, Blue Valley North

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1998: Shahidrah Roberts, Blue Valley North

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1997: Cheryl Rowles, Park Hill

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BOYS

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2023: Kyan Evans, Staley

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2022: Aidan Shaw, Blue Valley

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2021: Zeke Mayo, Lawrence, and Mark Mitchell Jr., Bishop Miege

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2020: Tamar Bates, Piper

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2019: Christian Braun, Blue Valley Northwest

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2018: Ochai Agbaji, Oak Park

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2017: Jacob Gilyard, Barstow

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2016: Jeriah Horne, Barstow, and Blake Spellman, Lee’s Summit

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2015: Kevin Puryear, Blue Springs South

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2014: Clayton Custer, Blue Valley Northwest

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2013: Semi Ojeleye, Ottawa

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2012: Benny Parker, Sumner Academy

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2011: Tyler Kalinoski, Olathe East

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2010: Daylen Robinson, Northeast

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2009: Alec Burks, Grandview

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2008: Marcus Denmon, Hogan Prep

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2007: Conner Teahan, Rockhurst

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2006: Isaac Miles, Bishop Miege

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2005: Marcus Walker, O’Hara

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2004: Marcus Walker, O’Hara

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2003: Quinton Day, Paseo

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2002: Quinton Day, Paseo

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2001: Wayne Simien, Leavenworth

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2000: Matt Frieje, Shawnee Mission West

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1999: Kareem Rush, Pembroke Hill

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1998: JaRon Rush, Pembroke Hill, and Victor Williams, Wyandotte

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1997: JaRon Rush, Pembroke Hill

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1996: JaRon Rush, Pembroke Hill

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1995: Derek Hood, Central

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1994: Eric Bowie, Raytown South

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1993: Vinson Smith, Schlagle

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1992: Chad Elston, Shawnee Mission West

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1991: Greg Gurley, Shawnee Mission South

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1990: Jevon Crudup, Raytown South

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1989: Chris Heller, Rockhurst

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1988: Anthony Peeler, Paseo

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1987: John Cooper, Rockhurst

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1986: Harold Mitchem, Rockhurst

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1985: Tim Honeycutt, Raytown South

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1984: Barry Bailey, Central

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1983: Shawn Case, Van Horn

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1982: Calvin Thompson, Wyandotte

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1981: Steve Harris, Blue Springs

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1980: Russ Morman, William Chrisman

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1979: Jon Sundvold, Blue Springs

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1978: Michael Coleman, Central

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1977: John Crawford, Northeast

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1976: Mick and Rick Allison, Center

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1975: Steve Schall, Raytown South

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1974: Clay Johnson, Manual

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1973: Mike Goodpaster, William Chrisman

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1972: Walter Johnson, Lincoln

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1971: Felix Jerman, Manual

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1970: Kevin Wall, Rockhurst

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1969: Martinez Denmon, Lincoln

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1968: Kent Scott, Raytown South

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1967: John Stacy, Bishop Hogan

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1966: John Stacy, Bishop Hogan

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1965: Bruce Sloan, Center

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1964: Warren Armstrong, Central

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1963: Bob Bauers, Rockhurst

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1962: Larry Norris, Southeast

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1961: Don Dee, Lillis

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1960: John Cunneen, Redemptorist

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1959: Jim Whipple, Van Horn

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1958: Jackie Gilbert, Lincoln

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1957: John Hickman, Central

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1956: Jim Hoffman, Northeast

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1955: Roger Wendell, East

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1954: Kent Bryan, Southeast

This story was first published April 6, 2023, 9:15 PM.