The Kansas Barnstorming Tour will be playing in Great Bend this afternoon at 4 at Kirkman Activity Center on the Barton Community College campus.
Doors will be opening at 1:30 p.m.
This is a benefit basketball game highlighting the talents of area high school seniors against former Kansas basketball senior players Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed and Mario Little.
The Jayhawks, who had their run at a national title stopped short by Virginia Commonwealth 71-61 in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, finished the season with a 35-3 overall record.
Reed led the senior trio with 9.7 points per game.
Morningstar averaged of 7.1 points. Little averaged 5.1.
Admission is $8 per person.
The Great Bend Recreation Commission All-Stars will be composed of seniors from area high schools.
Great Bend will be represented by Dakota Ellis and Greg Hildebrand.
Hildebrand, a 6-foot-2 forward, led the Panthers (12-10) in scoring (7.9 points per game) and rebounds (4.0) while shooting 73.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Great Bend advanced to the Class 5A sub-state championship game, where it lost to eventual state champion McPherson after defeating Hays on its home court.
Ellis, a 6-0 swingman, knocked down 45 percent of his 3-pointers during the Western Athletic Conference campaign, where the Panthers finished 4-4. He averaged 6.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and normally guarded the opponent’s top player.
Senior post players Kyle Bunker and Derek Bevan will be representing the 1A Division I state champion Macksville (25-1).
Bunker’s was dominant during the Mustangs’ title run, averaging 19-6 points during the regular season and put up a double-double in the state championship game against South Haven, scoring 33 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
Bevan averaged 11 points and 7.7 boards in the regular season for the Mustangs.
Otis-Bison Michael Hlavaty and Dominic Trapp represent a team that won the first state tournament game in school history, ultimately taking home third place from Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.
Hlavaty averaged 10.6 points per game. Trapp averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 boards.
Courtney Liebl of Claflin is one of only two girls to represent the area. The Lady Wildcats lost in the sub-state final championship game against Little River to finish the season with a 17-4 record.
Hoisington, which finished its season with an 18-4 overall record, will be represented by Luke Becker, who averaged 7.3 points and four rebounds per game, and Dustin Broeder, who put in 5.4 points per game
St. John’s Zach Minnis and Brandon Blakeslee will be representing the Tigers, who went 10-11 and lost to Ashland in the second round of their sub-state tournament.
Ellinwood sends one girl and one boy from this season. Lauren Thill represents the Lady Eagles who went 2-17 this season and Kyle Corbett represents Ellinwood’s 9-11 boys team.
The GBRC All-stars will be coached by Alan Clark of Otis-Bison.
Joining the three KU seniors will be Jon Pike of Great Bend and Kyle Kirmer of Hays to make a team of five.
Game proceeds provide for GBRC scholarships for local economically challenged youth and individuals with disabilities participating in GBRC programs. An autograph session is scheduled from approximately 2-3:45 p.m. at the Kirkman Activity Center. Autographs are not guaranteed. Kansas Barnstorming t-shirts will also be available to purchase.
All tickets are general admission and are available on first come, first serve basis.