The Kansas State High School Activities Association announced new changes to the boys and girls state basketball tournament for 2028.
The state basketball tournament will play semifinals and championship games in Wichita and in Hutchinson.
“The membership wanted to do this,” Assistant Executive Director Kyle Doperalski said on the KSHSAA Covered Podcast. “We had great results and great feedback from the 2026 state tournament. This is the direction that our membership wants to go.”
The neutral site quarterfinals will still continue in 2028. This is the same style as this year’s state tournament along with state baseball and softball.
The semifinals and championship games for state basketball will be played at Wichita State’s Koch Arena, Friends University’s Garvey Center, Park City’s Heartland Federal Credit Union Arena and at Hutchinson Community College
In 2028, Hutchinson will host the semifinals and finals for Class 2A. The rest of the state will play in the Wichita area.
Friends University will host semifinal games and third-place games. Wichita State and Heartland Federal Credit Union Arena will house semifinals and state championship games.
According to the KSHSAA, this is the first time since 1945 that the state basketball tournament has played all of its state semifinal and championship games within a 60-mile radius of each other. The 1945 state tournament held three classifications.
“State championship tournaments feature Kansas student-athletes on the biggest stage for the most important games of their season,” KSHSAA Executive Director Bill Faflick said in a press release. “With all games in the greater Wichita area, fans will be able to support the best of the best in the pursuit of the ultimate prize in high school sports while witnessing the thrill of victory in their choice of the 14 championship tournaments.”
2027 Kansas high school basketball state semifinal and championship locations
- Class 6A and 5A: White Auditorium, Emporia
- Class 4A and 2A: Bramalage Coliseum, Manhattan
- Class 3A: Hutchinson Sports Arena, Hutchinson
- Class 1A DI and Class 1A DII: Tony’s Pizza Events Center, Salina
2028 Kansas high school basketball state semifinal and championship locations
Class 2A
- Hutchinson Sports Arena, Hutchinson
All other classes
- Koch Arena, Wichita
- Garvey Center at Friends University, Wichita
- Heartland Federal Credit Union Arena, Park City
Liam Keating covers high school sports and Washburn University for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: KSHSAA announces changes to 2028 state basketball tournament