TOPEKA, Kan. – Washburn Ichabod head basketball coach Brett Ballard has announced the signing of three high school seniors who will join the Ichabods next season. Washburn, who was ranked No. 2 in the NABC Preseason Coaches Poll and off to a 2-0 start this season, will return to action this weekend at the Central Regional Challenge in Pittsburg, Kan. with games against MSU Moorhead and Winona State.
 
Cy Stucky – 6-7, 225, forward – Maize, Kan. / Maize South HS 
As a junior he averaged 13.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg adding 3.0 apg earning first-team all-AVCTL honors and class 5A third-team all-state honors … as a sophomore he was an all-AVCTL honorable mention selection helping team to a fourth-place state finish … son of Cody and Casey Stucky … three sisters, Caiya, Camdyn and Channing … a brother Cohen … plans to major in physical therapy.
 
Ballard on Stucky: "The first thing that stands out about Cy is his frame, size, and strength. He's physically imposing and plays with the kind of toughness and physicality that we value in our program. Cy has great hands, a soft touch, and finishes well around the rim. He knows his bread and butter is scoring in the paint, but he's also skilled enough to face up and go by defenders on the perimeter. He moves extremely well for a player his size, which will make him an excellent defender and rebounder. Cy is a gym rat who comes from a great high school program, so he's a guy who will not only work relentlessly to improve but will also arrive well coached and prepared."
 
Reece Riedel – 6-5, 190, guard – Shawnee, Kan. / Mill Valley HS
As a junior he averaged 17.7 ppg with 4.9 rpg shooting with 2.9 apg shooting 34 percent from deep earning first-team all-Sunflower league and third-team all-state honors and was ranked the No. 1 recruit in the state by Recruit Look Kansas … an honorable mention all-state pick as a sophomore after averaging 13.6 ppg with 5.1 rpg and 3.1 apg for honorable mention all-league and all-state honors and was named to the state tournament all-tourney team … also played football … son of Joe and Marcy Riedel … a brother, Joey … a sister, Reagan … plans to major in business.
 
Ballard on Riedel: "Anytime you can sign the top-rated recruit in your own state, you feel good about that — and we're very excited because Reece is the ultimate competitor. I've never watched a game where he wasn't the hardest-playing kid on the floor. He's tough, confident, and can score at all three levels. He's a knockdown shooter who can also put it on the deck and get to the rim. Reece will be a great defender and rebounder, allowing him to impact the game on both ends of the floor. He comes from a great high school program and one of the best AAU programs in the country, so he'll be as mentally prepared as any newcomer we've ever had."
 
 
Brody Owen – 6-3, 170, guard – St. Louis, Mo. / Marquette HS
As a junior he eclipsed the career 1,000-point scoring mark and became the school's all-time assist leader earning all-district honors …was a first-team all-league selection and all-district pick … as a freshman he was an honorable mention all-league pick and an all-district selection … son of Malachi and Stephanie Owen … a sister, Bailey … his mom played basketball at Missouri Baptist … plans to major in business or marketing.
 
Ballard on Owen: "Brody has many of the same qualities that some of the best combo guards I've coached have displayed. He hates to lose and is extremely competitive, with a high basketball IQ. His skill set is versatile — he can knock down threes, beat defenders off the bounce, and finish in the paint. Brody is also a willing playmaker who creates for others. He's deceptively athletic, with a surprising burst that allows him to get by defenders and finish at the rim. Playing in one of the top high school leagues in the St. Louis area, Brody is a guy who has the potential to make an immediate impact in our program."