Few athletes in the area put together a stretch like Perry-Lecompton’s Eli Dean did in 2025. In February, during basketball season, Dean etched his name into school history by breaking the Kaws’ career assists record, surpassing a mark that had stood since 1980.

Dean carried that momentum into the spring, delivering a standout baseball season that earned him Class 3A Player of the Year honors from Sports in Kansas. At the plate, he hit an incredible .583 with 42 hits, 21 RBIs, five home runs, 10 doubles, and 50 runs scored. He was just as dominant on the mound, throwing 48 innings with 83 strikeouts and a 2.33 ERA.

Dean’s all-around excellence helped Perry-Lecompton finish the season with 16 wins and a run to the sub-state championship game. He continued collegiately with his baseball career at Washburn, capping off a truly memorable run that stands as one of the top sports moments of 2025.