Keelie Kronberger’s progression in high school has been steady as she goes for the Mountain City girls basketball standout, but this season she sailed through the competition to win player-of-the-year honors in a boat race.

The 6-foot scoring machine swept all three major individual awards after being named the state’s top player by Gatorade, MaxPreps and Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches.

Kronberger averaged 28.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 3.3 assists per game, leading the Lions a 28-3 record and state title and signing with Oral Roberts University of the Summit League.

In an era when so many people demand instant gratification, Kronberger’s progression has been gradual, as she advanced from third team all-state as a sophomore to second team as a junior to headlining the first team as a senior and winning her first Class 4A Player of the Year award.

Kronberger opened the state tournament with a career high 45 points against North Pole and closed it out with 20 points in a 55-45 win over Cook Inlet Conference champion Bartlett in the state title game.

She pumped in 30 points or more in 14 of her team’s 31 games.

West Valley junior playmaker Jayden Miranda of West Valley took home 4A boys player-of-the-year honors. He also won the Gatorade POY award.

Bristol Tobin of Grace was the MaxPreps POY.

Miranda and Tobin moved up from second team last year to first team this year, while Dimond’s Amelio Ambrosio and Armani Smith of Lathrop jumped from third team.

In 3A, Barrow swept the top player awards with Alex Fruean winning for boys and Aiga Unutoa for the girls.

Fruean averaged 33 points in three games at the state tournament, highlighted by a career-high 46 points in a 98-97 triple-OT loss to Mt. Edgecumbe in the title game.

The 6-7 manchild added five blocks, four 3-pointers and three dunks, including an alley-oop finish on a pass off the backboard.

The Braves won the game, but the fabulous Fruean won the moment.

He also put up 37 points on Nome to highlight a 63-50 victory in the semifinals.

Unutoa, a senior, was a key member of Barrow’s state title team, scoring 16 points in the final against Monroe as the Whalers won 56-49.

In 2A, Seward’s Ava Jagielski was named top player and her coach Curtis Berry top coach as the Seahawks capped a 29-0 season with a state title.

Jagielski notched her 1,000th career point in the first half of a 42-26 win over Glennallen in the title game.

The do-it-all guard produced one quadruple-double and three triple-doubles this season and surpassed the 250 benchmarks in both steals and assists as a senior.

On the boys side, Ninilchik’s Kade McCorison grabbed the top honor after leading the Wolverines to the top prize at the state tournament.

The 6-3 guard bagged a game-high 18 points in a 53-38 win over Haines 53-38 in the final and finished his career with 2,420 points to rank No. 4 on Alaska’s all-time scoring list.

At 1A, all four individual winners ran it back as Fort Yukon bench boss Josh Cadzow and playmaker Kylee Carroll claimed top honors on the girls side and Shaktoolik’s floor general Seth Paniptchuk and coach Silas Paniptchuk swept the boys side.

Led by Cazdow and Carroll’s senior class, the Eagles have gone 73-16 since 2024 and captured three straight state titles.

Seth, a 5-10 junior, averaged 25 points for a 28-1 Shaktoolik squad that put up 92.2 points per game, with highs of 135, 129 and 125.

4A Boys

Player of the Year: Jayden Miranda, West Valley
Coach of the Year: Jason Boerger, Grace
🏀
First team
Amelio Ambrosio, Dimond
Jayden Miranda, West Valley
Halen Nield, West Valley
Armani Smith, Lathrop
Bristol Tobin, Grace
🏀
Second team
Ashton Clarkson, Grace
Carmelo Mason, West
Lucian Mikes, South
Mylz Mongeau, Colony
Alexander Unks, Service
🏀
Third team
Jackson Ainsworth, Colony
Jace Christophersen, Dimond
Joren Gasga, Juneau-Douglas
Lukas Owen, Palmer
Braeden Speakman, East

4A Girls

Player of the Year: Keelie Kronberger, Mountain City
Coach of the Year: Lonnie Ridgeway, Mountain City
🏀
First team
Kennedi Gaines, Bartlett
Keelie Kronberger, Mountain City
Taylor Passard, Colony
Jasmine Schaeffer, Mountain City
Aryanna Watson, Service
🏀
Second team
Morgan Ainsworth, Colony
Wednesday Bithow, West
Savannah Kroon, Wasilla
Brooklynn Ridgeway, Mountain City
Sialeia Silva, Service
🏀
Third team
Mielee Merchant, Wasilla
Harmony Jenkins-Foster, Bartlett
Gwen Nizich, Juneau-Douglas
Sloan King, Chugiak
Katie MacDonald, Dimond

3A Boys

Player of the Year: Alex Fruean, Barrow
Coach of the Year: Nolan Rose, Kenai
🏀
First team
Cohen Booth, Nome
Alex Fruean, Barrow
Guy Goldsberry, Mt. Edgecumbe
Kaden Herrmann, Mt. Edgecumbe
Trey Johnson, Sitka
🏀
Second team
Miles Metteer, Kenai
Levi Pederson, Nome
Lane Schuerch, Nome
Jaziah Tivao, Barrow
Ethan Wheeler, Bethel
🏀
Third team
Brady Bevard, Delta
Noriel Lugo, Delta
Xavier Gunderson, Mt. Edgecumbe
Jackson Iverson, Bethel
Shane Tincher, Sitka

3A Girls

Player of the Year: Aiga Unutoa, Barrow
Coach of the Year: Krystyna Park, Grace
🏀
First team
Kylen Burnell, Barrow
Leila Church, Monroe
Aiga Unutoa, Barrow
MJ van der Horst, Grace
Poppy Wiggers-Pidduck, Grace
🏀
Second team
Tahira Akaran, Mt. Edgecumbe
Marylene Burgett, Galena
Trinity Turiel, Monroe
Zadah Unutoa, Barrow
Bryleigh Williams, Kenai
🏀
Third team
Leah Arroyo, Delta
Emersyn Cortez, Monroe
Maci Miller, Kenai
Ashlyn Nelson, Kotzebue
Faagi Unutoa, Barrow

2A Boys

Player of the Year: Kade McCorison, Ninilchik
Coach of the Year: Bryan Combs, Haines
🏀
First team
Austin Barnard, Susitna Valley
Colton Combs, Haines
Kade McCorrison, Ninilchik
Taizano Nelson, Lumen Christi
Josh Smith, Unalakleet
🏀
Second team
Emerson Cross, Seward
Aiden Knudsen, Petersburg
Rocco Lindsey, Metlakatla
Andon McCorrison, Ninilchik
Isaac Smith, Unalakleet
🏀
Third team
Marvin Captain, Tok
Gianni Hayward, Metlakatla
Jacob Lane, Point Hope
Noah Pawuk, Petersburg
James Stickler, Haines

2A Girls

Player of the Year: Ava Jagielski, Seward
Coach of the Year: Curtis Berry, Seward
🏀
First team
Lily Esmailka, Susitna Valley
Ava Jagielski, Seward
Sara Steffen, Craig
Alianna Stone, Glennallen
Mikinley Williams, Seward
🏀
Second team
Saahdia Buffalo, Metlakatla
Grace Ann Fleming, Seward
Isabella Nothstine, Cordova
Bernadean Simmons, Tok
Ashlyn Smith, Craig
🏀
Third team
Violet Jack, Unalakleet
Rylee LaFortaza, Unalaska
Baileigh Nelson, Metlakatla
Victoria Nothstine, Cordova
Hailey Oktollik, Point Hope

1A Boys

Player of the Year: Seth Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik
Coach of the Year: Silas Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik
🏀
First team
Jonathan David, Minto
Chase Katchatag, Shaktoolik
Alek McGarry, Cook Inlet Academy
Seth Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik
Terrence Titus, Northway
🏀
Second team
Royce Borst, Skagway
Michael Chase Gould, King Cove
Tyler Hugo, Nunamiut
Nicholas Roberts, Minto
Brandt Rollman, Cook Inlet Academy
🏀
Third team
Warren Charlie, Minto
Gavin Hanshaw, Selawik
Dallas Kaganak, Scammon Bay
Ivan Davis Nayokpuk, Shishmaref
Riley Wilson, King Cove

1A Girls

Player of the Year: Kylee Carroll, Fort Yukon
Coach of the Year: Josh Cadzow, Fort Yukon
🏀
First team
Kylee Carroll, Fort Yukon
Madison Katchatag, Shaktoolik
Ida Lester, Newhalen
Nellie Ward, Fort Yukon
Kyra Weyanna, Shishmaref
🏀
Second team
Olivia Harvilla, Bristol Bay
Brooklyn Hingesburgen, Selawik
Faith Mudge, Tri Valley
Summer Sampson, Shaktoolik
Jane Ward, Fort Yukon
🏀
Third team
Sarah Bodfish, Meade River
Mia Cromer, Sand Point
Easton Ross, Hoonah
Iris Wappel, Tri Valley
Analeigh Wassille, Newhalen