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7 Days Until the State Boys Basketball Announcement
Gatorade 2025 - 2026: Player of the Year

Girls Basketball - Nebraska

Gatorade Player of the year

Kylee Paben

Forward
MILLARD WEST HS
OMAHA, NEBRASKA
SENIOR
Height: 6-FOOT-1
Press Release

Peak Performance

19.3

Average points (per game)

7.8

Average rebounds (per game)

2.5

Average steals (per game)

1176

Career Points
“Kylee is the best offensive player in the state. She can score at all 3 levels - from 3, midrange, and at the rim. She has to be guarded and worried about anytime she’s on the court. She is tough defensively and can guard multiple positions. She wants to win and competes as hard as anyone we play against. She is a great teammate who makes other players around her better. As an opposing coach, our game plan defensively was focused on her and how we could slow her down. She’s an incredible player.”
Cody Trofholz
Head Coach - Papillion-LaVista

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-1 senior small forward led the Wildcats to a 21-5 record and the Class A semifinals this past season. Paben averaged 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, including a 30-point effort along with 6 boards and 5 steals in a 63-52 win over Millard North. The leading scorer in Class A this past season as well as the 2025 State Tournament Most Outstanding Player, she’s ranked as the state’s No. 1 recruit in her class by PrepGirlsHoops. She concluded her prep career with 1,176 points and 584 rebounds.

Academic Achievement

Paben has maintained a weighted 3.96 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play basketball at the University of Minnesota in the fall. 

Exemplary Character

She has spent the last two years volunteering at Special Olympics Nebraska as well as Play It Forward, continuing to unite and inspire through the power of sports. She is also a member of the National Honor society, which recognizes high levels of achievement across academic, service, leadership and character among high school students.