Rising Star: Andover Central’s Maddi Amekporfor always working to lead Jaguars

WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - Every day, Andover Central junior Maddi Amekporfor goes throughout her day refusing to be outworked.

“I know there’s someone working harder than me, so I know that for me to be able to be the best I can be, I have to put in those extra hours,” she said following the Jaguars’ sub-state semifinal final against Valley Center on Tuesday. “Just anything, if it’s shooting after practice or doing anything like that that I can.”

Her mindset and leadership as a four-year starter has the Jaguars within one win of returning to state. They finished in third place last year after coming up short in the 5A title game in 2021. The No. 4 Jaguars host No. 5 Hutchinson in the sub-state championship Friday.

Amekporfor has recorded more than 900 points and four rebounds throughout her career. She’s also dished out more than 200 assists while being a turnover machine, forcing more than 350 combined steals and blocks during her career. She has shot better than 50% from the field after coming up just shy at 49% as a freshman.

“She always tries to outwork everybody else in the gym. You can tell she’s always thinking, ‘Somebody else out there might be outworking me today.’ One of the best things about her is how much better she makes her teammates around her. It’s pretty exceptional,” Andover Central head coach Stana Jefferson said of Amekporfor.

She’s averaging 12 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 4.4 steals this season with 1 block per game. Alongside junior Hayden Snodgrass’ 14.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, the Jaguars overcame a 1-3 start to the season to head into the sub-state championship at 16-5.

Each of their losses - Maize South (twice), Derby, Andover (twice) - have come to teams also playing in sub-state title games. Only one was by more than 10 points, a 59-45 loss at Andover on Feb. 14.

Amekporfor is verbally committed to play basketball at Washburn.

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