Vote now: Who should be SBLive’s 2022-23 Texas Boys Basketball Class 4A Player of the Year?
Oak Cliff-Faith Family pulled away to beat Houston's Washington 70-56 in the UIL Class 4A boys championship on March 11, capping four months of regular season play and seven rounds of postseason.
Now, it's time to recognize the top stars in the 2022-23 Texas high school basketball season.
We narrowed the list down to nine finalists. Now we want to hear from you: Who was the most valuable player in Class 4A?
Read up on the nominees and cast your vote below to determine the fan-voted winner. Voting is open through May 6 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
Texas Class 4A state player of the year finalists
Miles Schleder, Wimberley Sr. SG/PG
Full stop, Schleder was one of the nation's top 3-point shooters. He hit 153 treys this year – 39% – and hit 321 in his career. Scored 21.7 points with 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.0 steals for the Texans.
Matthew Soto, Somerset Sr. PG/SG
Soto surpassed both the 2,000- and 2,500-point mark this season for the Bulldogs. He led the team with 26.5 points per game, while adding 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Scored at least 13 points in every game and had a season-high 50 against San Antonio Memorial.
Ryan Bellino, La Vernia Sr. F/SG
He led the Bears in scoring (20.3), shooting percentage (52%), rebounds (8.2), steals (2.5). He was the District 28-4A MVP and scored his 1,000th point earlier season.
Barrett Pape, Boerne Sr. SG/PG
The combo guard helped the Greyhounds reach the semifinals and he did his best in a loss to Booker T. Washington, scoring 19 points with 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Averaged 16.6 points, 3.4 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals this season.
Jadyn Toppin, Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy Sr. PF
The New Mexico pledge was named the championship MVP after leading the Dallas school to the title by scoring 20 points against Houston Booker T. Washington. That came after scoring 26 points and 15 rebound in the semifinals by the 6-foot-8 standout.
Jared Harris, Silsbee Jr. SG/PG
Texas A&M, Houston, Texas, Texas Tech and Kansas are among a bevy of schools interest in his services. Averaged 18.4 points per game for the Tigers.
KJ Thomas, Canyon Randall Jr. PG/SG
In a Class 4A semifinal game, Thomas scored a game-high 33 points in a loss to Oak Clif Faith Family. The District 4-4A co-MVP scored a school record 50 points earlier this season against Borger. Is third all-time in points in school history and has more than 1,500 points with one year left.
MarMar Evans, Center Sr. G/SF
A football recruit for Lamar, Evans is the all-time scoring leader for Center High School with more than 1,800 points. He was also the District 17-4A MVP for the second straight year. Scored 16.2 points per game and led the team with 4.3 assists per game as well.
Kenneth Lewis, Houston Booker T. Washington Sr. SF/SG
Lewis averaged a team-high 19.2 points per game for the Class 4 runners-up this year, including 14 in the finals against Oak Cliff Faith Family. In the Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament in Peoria, Illinois earlier this year his 51 points– against Yorkville Christian – set the tournament record previously held by Zion Williamson. The 6-foot-7 forward is headed to play at Prairie View A&M.
