Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding
performers in high school basketball. The tradition continued to close
out the 2025-26 season by naming the top player in each state.
Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in
addition to local and state accolades.
Uzziah Sanders of
Lincoln Southwest (Lincoln) is the 2025-26 MaxPreps Nebraska High School Basketball Player of the Year. The 5-foot-11 senior guard led the Silver Hawks to a 24-4 record and the program's first state championship.
For the season, Sanders averaged 23.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.6 steals per contest while shooting 58.6 percent from the field, 42.3 percent from 3-point range and 76.6 percent from the free throw line.
MaxPreps Nebraska Player of the Year Uzziah Sanders is the first Lincoln Southwest player to reach the career 1,000-point plateau. (PHOTO: Scott Hasse)
In a 57-53 victory over Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion) in the Class A title game, Sanders scored a game-high 20 points and collected three steals.
Sanders, who scored 1,270 career points, posted a season-high 32 points in a 72-70 loss to Omaha Central (Omaha). His career-high came last season when he poured in 35 in an 81-79 win against Benson (Omaha).
Each
state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in
the MaxPreps All-America Team, which is scheduled to be released in
April. Past selections include 2026 NBA All-Stars Karl Anthony-Towns
(2014), Scottie Barnes (2020), Devin Booker (2014), Jaylen Brown (2015),
Jalen Brunson (2014, 2015), Cade Cunningham (2019, 2020), Kevin Durant
(2006), Jalen Duren (2021), Anthony Edwards (2019), De'Aaron Fox (2016),
Chet Holmgren (2020, 2021), Brandon Ingram (2015), Jalen Johnson
(2019), Tyrese Maxey (2019) and Norman Powell (2011).
Past MaxPreps Nebraska Players of the Year
2019-20 – Hunter Sallis, Millard North (Omaha)
2020-21 – Saint Thomas, Millard North
2021-22 – Isaac Traudt, Grand Island
2022-23 – Josiah Dotzler, Bellevue West (Bellevue)
2023-24 – Jaden Jackson, Bellevue West
2024-25 – Bryson Bahl, Papillion-Vista South (Papillion)
