By Joanna Chadwick
Missing most of his junior season due to an achilles injury was devastating for Wichita Collegiate’s Sebastian Hines-Turner.
“I was going to make a game-winning pass and planted hard to push off, and that’s when it happened. It was one of those moments that occurs really quickly, but it forced me to step away from the game and focus completely on recovery,” he said.
“Coming back was one of the toughest challenges I’ve faced. It tested me physically and mentally because rehab takes patience and discipline every day. There were frustrating moments, especially wanting to be out there while the team was grinding through the season. But it motivated me to come back stronger and not take the game for granted.”
And when he returned for his senior season, he was focused, scoring 33 points to help Collegiate win the Class 3A title 55-42 over Burlington. Collegiate finished the season 25-1.
Hines-Turner is the VYPE Kansas 2025-26 editors choice boys basketball player of the year sponsored by Shelter Insurance.
He averaged 19.3 points a game – scoring 17 in the third quarter of the 3A title game – shooting 61.8% from two-point range, 32.6% from three. He averaged 2.4 assists, 4.7 steals, 7.9 rebounds.
“He does everything,” Collegiate coach Nate Schmitt said. “He impacts the game in every single statistical category. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Hines-Turner finished in the top five in all categories for a single season at Collegiate. He’s second in scoring, second in rebounds, first in offensive rebounds (as a freshman), second in defensive rebounds, fifth in assists and first in steals.
“I’m not limited to just one role — I can score at all three levels, facilitate for others, rebound and defend at a high level,” Hines-Turner said. “On any given night, I can put up points, create eight or more assists, grab double-digit rebounds, or take on the toughest defensive assignment.
“I take pride in being able to guard positions one through five and do whatever the team needs to win. My goal isn’t just to play well individually, but to control the game in multiple ways and make winning plays on both ends of the floor.”
This season wasn’t completely smooth – the players needed to adjust to a new coach, they needed to adjust to each other. And in mid-February, Collegiate suffered its only loss — to Kapaun Mount Carmel, which took second in Class 5A.
”With a new coach and limited time to prepare, we had to buy in quickly and trust each other,” Hines-Turner said. “We all understand our roles and take pride in doing whatever the team needs to win. Defensively, we knew we had to be locked in together — communicating, helping, and playing with intensity — because our defense is what fuels our offense. When we get stops and play unselfish basketball, everything starts to click.
“We also embraced the grind of the season and stayed together even when we felt worn down, and that toughness is what separates us.”
