FHSU Athletics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball had three players recognized with MIAA postseason honors on Tuesday. Kaleb Hammeke became the only five-time All-MIAA selection in FHSU men's basketball program history, earning a first-team selection for the third-straight year. He was also named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team. Kyle Grill was an All-MIAA Honorable Mention pick, while Shaun Riley joined Hammeke as one of five players on the All-Defensive Team.
Hammeke continued to add to his storied career at FHSU. He became the fourth player in the program's history to receive all-conference first team honors for a third time in their careers, joining Elmer Johnson (1938, 1939, 1940), Mark Wilson (1978, 1979, 1981), and Raymond Lee (1984, 1985, 1986). He is the first three-time all-conference first team selection in the program's NCAA Division II history. Hammeke is the all-time leading scorer at FHSU, now with 2,008 points in his career. This season, he is averaging 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He has scored in double figures in all but one game this year. Hammeke is one of only four active players at all NCAA levels to have 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists in their careers, joining Mark Sears of Alabama, Caleb Love of Arizona, and RJ Davis of North Carolina. Hammeke also received a selection to the All-Defensive Team for the first time in his career at FHSU.
Grill is enjoying a strong sophomore season for the Tigers. He ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game, while adding 4.6 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures 20 times this season with a season high of 25 points. He scored at least 20 in a game four times this season. Entering the MIAA Tournament, he leads the team in 3-point field goals made with 47.
Riley received a nod on the MIAA All-Defensive Team alongside Hammeke. He averaged a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game in the regular season, while leading the Tigers in blocked shots with 26. Not seen on a stat sheet, Riley consistently showed a suffocating display of defense throughout the season, especially in key moments when outcome of games were on the line.
This was the first time FHSU had multiple players named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team in a season. It is the fourth-straight season the Tigers had representation on the All-Defensive Team. The Tigers are the top defensive team in NCAA Division II, allowing just 59.8 points per game.
2024-25 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS & ALL-MIAA TEAMS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jordan Frison, Pittsburg State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jacob Hanna, Washburn
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Jacob Hanna, Washburn
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Kyran Tilley, Central Missouri
COACH OF THE YEAR: Brett Ballard, Washburn
MIAA ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
RJ Forney – Pittsburg State, Sr.
Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State, Gr.
Jacob Hanna – Washburn, Sr.
Michael Keegan – Washburn, Sr.
Shaun Riley – Fort Hays State, Sr.
ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM
Jack Bachelor – Washburn, So.
Jordan Frison – Pittsburg State, So.
Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State, Gr.
Jacob Hanna – Washburn, Sr.
Anthony Marshall – Rogers State, Sr.
ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM
Zane Nelson – Missouri Western, Sr.
Trey Phipps – Northeastern State, Gr.
Jacobi Sebock – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
Brayden Shorter – Washburn, So.
Avery Taggart – Pittsburg State, Sr.
ALL-MIAA THIRD TEAM
Ethan Blackmon – Northeastern State, So.
Karyiek Dixon – Emporia State, Jr.
Ja'Bryant Hill – Nebraska Kearney, Jr.
Andrew Orr – Washburn, Sr.
Allen Taylor – Nebraska Kearney, Sr.
ALL-MIAA HONORABLE MENTION
DeAirius Barker – Central Missouri, Sr.
RJ Forney – Pittsburg State, Sr.
Caden Fry – Rogers State, Jr.
Kyle Grill – Fort Hays State, So.
Israel Hart – Central Oklahoma, Jr.
Martin Macenis – Missouri Southern, Sr.
Andrew Mason – Rogers State, Jr.
Sam Somerhalder – Newman, Jr.
Boston Stanton – Newman, Sr.
Zion Swader – Missouri Western, Sr.
Chase Thompson – Nebraska Kearney, Sr.
Terrell Williams – Arkansas-Fort Smith, Sr.