Story by Hurrdat Sports
[OMAHA, Nebraska, April 2, 2026] -- Hurrdat Sports honored high school basketball’s best in Nebraska with the winners of its 2026 NebPreps Basketball Awards. The honors recognize the top boys and girls players across all six Nebraska high school classifications, along with the inaugural Borsheims Big Game Chain Player of the Year awards for both genders.
Player of the Year • Class A Boys — Uzziah Sanders, Senior, Lincoln Southwest: Sanders averaged a Class A-leading 23.3 points on 59% shooting (42% from three and 77% from the foul line), along with 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game. He led Lincoln Southwest to a 24-4 record and the program's first state championship. It marked the first state title for a Lincoln Public Schools boys program since 2003. • Class A Girls — Kylee Paben, Senior, Millard West: The Minnesota commit and the Wildcats’ only returning starter finished first among Class A in scoring and third in three-pointers. She averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.4 blocks per game as Millard West went 21-5 and reached the state semifinals. • Class B Boys — Nate Kelley, Senior, Scottsbluff: Kelley capped a four-year varsity starting career by leading the Bearcats to the Class B state championship and a 24-4 record. He averaged 17.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals, while shooting 56% from the field and 81% from the free throw line. • Class B Girls — Macie Reiner, Sophomore, Bennington: The Badgers’ leading scorer also stuffed the stat sheet beyond the scoring column. She averaged 14.8 points on 53% shooting, 6.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 4.3 steals per game. Reiner was second among Class B in assists and steals for the undefeated state champions. • Class C-1 Boys — Sawyer Smith, Senior, Ogallala: Among the most statistically dominant players in the state regardless of class, Smith ranked first among Class C-1 in scoring (21.5 points per game) and assists (7.7) and was second in rebounds (9.6) and steals (3.9), while shooting 61% from the field and 40% from three-point land for a 27-1 Ogallala squad that finished third at state. • Class C-1 Girls — Halle Dolliver, Senior, Malcolm: After missing her junior season due to a knee injury, the Omaha commit delivered a dominant senior campaign. Dolliver averaged 18.2 points, 12 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.6 blocks per game for the 27-2 Clippers, who finished as state runner-up. She ranked second among Class C-1 in rebounds and double-doubles and third in scoring. • Class C-2 Boys — Gavin Baker, Senior, Bergan Catholic: Baker closed his career as a back-to-back state champion. He averaged 21.9 points on 63% shooting (40% from three) with 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for a 28-1 Knights squad. Baker recorded four 30-point double-
doubles that included Bergan’s final two games in the semifinal and championship. • Class C-2 Girls — Hadley Walsh, Senior, Pender: Walsh and her fellow seniors capped their careers with a fourth state championship as Pender finished 28-2. She averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.8 steals. Walsh saved her best for last with a 25-point championship game performance. • Class D-1 Boys — Quin Oberg, Senior, Elm Creek: Oberg averaged 22.2 points (third in Class D-1), 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals to lead the Buffaloes to a 22-7 record and the state semifinals. Oberg elevated his game against top competition that included a 28-point, 13-rebound performance in a quarterfinal win over North Platte St. Patrick's. • Class D-1 Girls — Madyson Mlady, Sophomore, Bloomfield: Mlady finished second among Class D-1 in scoring (20.3 points per game). She also averaged 10.5 rebounds and 3.9 steals and recorded 15 double-doubles for the 28-1 state runner-up. • Class D-2 Boys — Jarek Erickson, Senior, Elgin Public/Pope John: Erickson led EPPJ to a state runner-up finish. He averaged 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists for a 25-4 squad. He tied for the class lead with 12 double-doubles and finished fourth in assists. • Class D-2 Girls — Abi Spargo, Sophomore, Dundy County Stratton: Spargo guided the Tigers to the No. 1 seed and their first state championship. She averaged 18.2 points on 57% shooting with 9.2 rebounds, 5.2 steals and 1.1 blocks for the 28-1 Tigers. Spargo finished third among the class in scoring, steals and double-doubles.
Borsheims Big Game Chain Player of the Year • Boys — Drew Siems, Senior, Tri County: Siems delivered 27 points (8 of 13 field goals, 2 of 3 from three and 9 of 9 free throws), 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal in a 53-51 win against Johnson-Brock in the MUDECAS final on Jan. 17. • Girls — Taryn French, Senior, Gretna East: French posted 24 points (8 of 15 field goals, 6 of 12 from three and 2 of 2 from the foul line), 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 assist in a 69-56 district final victory over Grand Island Northwest on Feb. 28.
"These athletes and coaches represent everything we love about high school basketball in Nebraska," Hurrdat Sports Director Sausha Durkan said. "From the largest schools in the state to the smallest, the talent and dedication we see across all six classes is truly remarkable. We are proud to give these competitors the recognition they have earned."
Coach of the Year Fan voting for the Boys and Girls All-Class Coach of the Year is open at NebPreps Basketball Awards | Hurrdat Sports. Winners will be announced on NebPreps social media channels Monday.