Plenty of Buzz at this years Kansas State Tournament

With players such as Clint McCullough (2012 St. James Academy), Gavin Thurman (2012 Wichita Southeast), Deonte Hooks (2010 Harmon) and AJ Spencer (2011 SM Northwest) missing from the Kansas state high school tournament, you would think some of the individual performances worth seeing might have been missing, too. In fact, this year may have been one of the more memorable on record.

The 6A tourney opened up with a quarterfinal OT battle between Shawnee Mission South and Blue Valley North with Will Spradling (2010 commit to Kansas State) finishing with 34 but falling short to North and its senior guard Sean McLarren, who ended with 21. It is fun to watch Spradling's command of the court and his effortless scoring, but in the end, he could not control the overtime as his high school career ended with over 1000 points and a place in KC's high school hall of legends. Blue Valley Northwest handled Blue Valley North in the next night's semi-final led by senior Tyler Brashears, who went for 25 points and 7 rebounds. Brashears is a whirling mix of slashing and finishing and carried the Huskies all season.

Another 6A quarterfinal saw Kansas State commit Nino Williams (2011) lead all scorers with 18 points as his Leavenworth team advanced over Maize. Williams is a tremendous athlete with shooting range and finishing ability, and with his team trailing most of the game, he came up with huge baskets and a block down the stretch to seal the game.

You can't talk about Kansas high school basketball without talking about top 10 national player Perry Ellis (2012) and Wichita Heights. Despite being double and triple teamed throughout the tournament, Ellis (the reigning 6A player of the year and only player in history to win the award as a freshman) was solid in all ways throughout the tournament finishing with averages of 18 points, 9 rebounds and three blocks. Teammate Evan Wessel (2011 commit to Wichita State) was also solid with big rebounding performances and perimeter shooting, The highlight of the tournament may have been the semi final match-up between Heights and Leavenworth, where two of the state's best players did battle. Ellis, who may be headed to KU, against Leavenworth's Williams was intriguing because they could hook-up in future Big 12 battles many more times. On this night, Williams was the better player and essentially kept his team close, but after fouling out in the fourth quarter, Heights went on to win the semi-final game. The next night, Heights handled Blue Valley Northwest easily behind Ellis's 20 and 11 to win the 6A state championship.

Other top performers in the 6A Final Eight:

Kyle Wiggins (2011) – 6'0 PG – Leavenworth – quick and can score as well as one of the better defenders in the tourney
Dreamius Smith (2011) – 5'11" PG – Wichita Heights – plays in the shadow of Ellis and Evan Wessel but solid at the point as well as big-time running back on football field
Wes Ehlers (2010) – 6'3" SG – Blue Valley North – a terrific scorer off the dribble, who had multiple 25 point games this year

Kansas 5A would best be described as Bishop Miege (ranked 31st nationally and undefeated) versus everyone else. And Miege was never really challenged as seniors Trevor Releford (2010 commit to Alabama) and Justin McCay (2010 commit to Oklahoma (ftbl)) dominated games on both ends. Complementing the two seniors, Curtis Okafor (6'4" junior) and Rodney Givens (2010 6'1" SG) made life difficult for Bishop Carroll, Gardner-Edgerton and Topeka West en route to Miege's state championship and undefeated season. Could be the best high school team in Kansas City history with three D1 players and a blue-chip football recruit. 6'6" Alex North (senior headed to Washburn University) led Topeka West into the finals with 24 points in semi-final upset of McPherson before falling to Miege.

Other top performers in 5A Final Eight:

Bubba Starling - (2011) – 6'5" SF – Gardner-Edgerton – had 25 points and 14 rebounds in 3rd place game
Connor Langrehr - (2010) – 6'3" SG – Gardner-Edgerton – son of the coach and plays like it; solid and hard-working with two double-doubles in tourney
TreVaughn White - (2011) – 5'10" PG – Washington – a pure scorer who would be a find for teams looking for a transition PG

In Kansas 4A, prohibitive favorite Sumner Academy needed OT to beat Topeka Hayden in the first round and then cruised to the state championship behind a collection of athletes. It was not only Reese Holliday (2010 commit to Wisconsin GB) that came up big but also 5'6" Bennie Parker (2012) who used his speed and unrelenting defense to score 20 points in the first round win. Holliday, who at 6'5" and 210 pounds was the most dominant athlete in 4A this year, had some nice games in the tourney including 22 and 10 in the final, but Parker and 6'5" Eli Alexander (2011) also made great contributions. Sumner easily beat Ottawa in the final, a team that features three fine players: 5'10" Adam Hasty (2011) is a nice PG with great court awareness and a terrific shooting touch; Kevin Barber (2010 who is likely headed to Butler CC) is 6'3" and extremely athletic; and freshman 6'6" Semi Ojeleye, who has turned heads all year and recently made a trip to Iowa to workout with Harrison Barnes. Kurt Walker (2011 PG) of Topeka Hayden impressed in semi-final game versus Sumner with balance of scoring and playmaking, and although only 5'11" could be nice D2 player.

One of the big questions of the tournament was about 6'10" sophomore Willie Cauley and his 2A Spearville High School squad. Cauley, who was just featured in SLAM Magazine as one of the nations "best unknowns" plays on a small stage in western Kansas. And, we wondered if the smaller, less equipped competition could control his size and athletic ability. Well, the 22-1 Lancers had that question answered in the first round as 13-9 Nemaha Valley upset them 52-48. Cauley struggled from the field against double and triple teams and was unable to control the game from the post, even with 13 rebounds and 9 blocks. Cauley, who is soft-spoken and not yet ready to assert himself physically, says he is currently leaning to Oklahoma State in his recruiting process.

There is nothing like high school playoff basketball, and the Kansas tournaments in 2010 offered great performances and some teams that will go down as some of the best in recent memory.
 

For decades, collegiate coaches have scoured the nation’s high school gyms looking for a point guard that can run their system. Some coaches put their emphasis on quickness. Some patience. Every offensive scheme is suited for a different offensive skill set. What if there was one guy who had it all? An Anomaly! A recruit who could penetrate the lane at will, shoot a team out of a zone and will his team to victory. Look no further, Flagrant Fouls built it!!! Taking the one aspect from each of the following point guards which makes them special, we’ve built the “Ultimate” Floor General.

Ball Handling: Trevor Releford, Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, KS): Armed with blazing speed and a killer crossover, nobody in the country can keep Releford in front of them. Try to pick his pocket… not happening. You’re more likely to be picking yourself up off the ground. While some coaches are forced to draw up a scheme to break defensive pressure, having Releford means there’s no scheme required.

Court Vision: Ray McCallum, Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, MI): When you’re playing with Ray Mac, one thing is certain: You better have your head on a swivel. Whether you’re attacking in the open court, or slowing it down in a half court set, Ray is more than capable of threading the needle. As the son of a coach, his best attribute might not be his passing skills, it’s his desire to use them.

Jump Shot: Trevor Cooney, Sanford School (Hockessin, DE): More of a combo guard than a true lead man, Cooney has a chance to have a similar impact on the college game as JJ Redick and Gerry McNamara. The country’s best shooter can knock it down off the curl, the dribble or with his feet set. Simply put, he’s a one man zone buster.

Quickness: Ahmad Starks, Whitney Young Magnet (Chicago, Illinois): You won’t find a faster player in the country from end to end than Ahmad Starks. What he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in speed. The 5-8 guard with ties to the president, (committed to play for the First Brother-in-Law at Oregon State) will literally run you right out of the gym.

Ability to Change Speeds: Marquis Teague, Pike HS (Indianapolis, IN): It’s one thing to possess blazing speed. Using that quickness to score easy points in transition requires a completely different skill set. Teague is fast, there’s no one out there disputing that fact. What separates him from the other sought after guards in the class of 2011 is his ability to lull his defender to sleep, then explode to the basket for an easy deuce.

Defense: Cory Joseph, Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV): If defense really does win championships, Cory should be getting a lot more credit from recruiting analysts. This lockdown defender was instrumental in helping lead Findlay Prep to the National Championship last season. He’s also helped Grassroots Canada establish themselves as one of the elite AAU clubs in the world over the past two summers. How? Cory gets in your grill, has very quick feet, and doesn’t let up until his opponent gives up.

Leadership: Phil Pressey, Episcopal School Of Dallas (Dallas, TX): When you see Pressey interact in a gym full of blue chip athletes, it makes you wonder two things: One is whether he drank any milk growing up? (Phil stands barely 5-9); the other is how this little man can walk into a gym filled with players who are a full foot taller than him and command their respect?! Phil may be small, but when he huddles up his teammates, trust me, he’s got everyone’s attention. On the court, he directs traffic, is extremely vocal and makes everyone around him more confident, and thus more successful.

Clutchness: Joe Jackson, White Station HS (Memphis, TN): Anyone on hand in Vegas for the Adidas Super 64 would agree with this selection. This kid has ice in his veins and loves having the ball in his hands during crunch time. Now I know what you’re thinking: What big time player doesn’t want to take the big shot? It’s one thing to crave the spotlight, but it’s a whole different animal trying to earn it.

Competitiveness:  Gary Franklin Jr., Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA): After losing the feeling in his arm playing football, and being told by doctors he would never play circuit or high school ball again, Gary practiced with one arm for three years and fought his way back. A winner both on the court and off the court, Gary is determined to succeed no matter how hard he has to work. His love for the game burns deep, and it certainly shows out on the hardwood.

Intensity:  Myck Kabongo, St.Benedict Prep (Newark, NJ): Ready to compete and scrap at all times, Kabongo seemingly never turns down the heat. The engine of Grassroots Canada Elite only has one gear: He plays hard and he plays mean. Myck is always in attack mode on both ends of the court, and his desire and toughness rub off on everyone around him. If Steve Nash is the current face of Canadian point guards, this kid is the future.

Body: Brandon Knight, Pine Crest School (Ft.Lauderdale, FL): At 6-3, Knight is never going to be tabbed the next Penny Hardaway or Magic Johnson. But with lead guards seemingly getting smaller and smaller, Knight has a body that allows him to play both strong and fast. He’s quick with the ball, finishes at the rim regardless of contact and never gets tired or breaks down. Bottom line: You can’t construct the Ultimate Floor General without including Brandon Knight. If a player with the listed combination of skills and intangibles ever shows up on the scene, just know, he could play in any system.

To view our Ultimate NCAA Point Guard CLICK HERE

Nolan Shulman

nolan@flagrantfouls.com

PLAYERS WHO HAVE YET TO MAKE A VERBAL

#3. Brandon Knight- Looks like he’ll be making his decision in the spring. Uconn, Kentucky, Miami, Florida, Kansas, and Syracuse are still all in the mix.

#4. Harrison Barnes- He’ll announce on Friday at 3pm on ESPNU. Looks like it’s coming down to UNC, Duke, and Kansas.

#5. Tobias Harris- He’ll announce on Thursday, Nov. 19 on ESPNU. No favorites to this point. He’s keeping it VERY close to the vest. His 7 schools are Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, West Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee.

#8. C.J. Leslie- Going to sign in the spring.

#10. Ray McCallum- Has now visited Florida, Oklahoma, UCLA, and Arizona. Not sure if he’ll sign early or late.

#13. Doron Lamb- According to his father Calvin, he’ll likely wait until spring. Still deciding between Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Arizona, and UConn.

#14. Roscoe Smith- Down to Duke, UConn, and Georgetwon.

#19. Cory Joseph- According to Findlay assistant coach Todd Simon, Cory will sign in the spring. He’s down to UConn, Minnesota, Texas, UNLV, Villanova, and Florida.

#22. Enes Kanter- ???? not even going to pretend to have a clue.

#24. Josh Selby- Likely a late signing. Deciding between Kentucky, Syracuse, Baylor, Kansas, Indiana, and Miami. Still has visits to take.

#28. Jelan Kendrick- Another player likely to sign in the spring.

#32. Trey Ziegler- Looks like he’s going to sign in the spring.

#33. JJ Moore- Likely to sign early. Deciding between Louisville, Pitt, and the St. John’s. Decided on Pitt today.

#36. Justin Coleman- He’ll sign in the spring. Needs to take care of his academics first. Likely headed to Junior College.

#56. Terrance Jones- 50/50 on whether he’ll be late or early signing. Considering Kentucky, Oklahoma, UCLA, Oregon, Washington.

#65. Jayvaughn Pinkston- Hasn’t decided whether he’ll be early or late according to Adam Zagoria. He’s deciding between Villanova, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Tennessee, and Marquette.

#68. Majok Majok- Likely a late signing. Harvard, Alabama, Penn State, Boston College, Georgia Tech are all in the mix.

#70. Shaq Thomas- Waiting for info. Will get some soon.

#74. Tarik Black- Going to sign late. Tennessee, Florida, Marquette, and Alabama are still in the mix.

#78. Maurice Walker- Likely to sign late. He still has visits to take. According to Jerry Meyer, Pitt is in the lead.

#81. Jordan Mayes- Going to sign late. He’s open. He’s looking at Boston College, Utah, Cal…..but willing to listen to all schools still.

#96. Tony Mitchell- Will make his verbal next week after he finishes up his visits.

KIDS WHO HAVE OR WILL SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE TODAY

#1. Jared Sullinger- The big boy has inked and will be a Buckeye. Greg Oden, BJ Mullens, and now Jared. WOW.

#7. Will Barton- Singed his LOI with Memphis but will fax it in tomorrow. He’s currently playing a game away from home.

#9. Perry Jones- signed with Baylor very early. Speculation over Kentucky fans.

#11. DeShaun Thomas- Sealed the deal with Ohio State.

#17. Jereme Richmond- Coach Howard tweets that it’s official.

#23. Dominique Ferguson- Will sign with Zeke and FIU today.

#25. Travis McKiie- Will sign with Wake Forest at 11am.

#33. JJ Moore- Signed with Pitt today.

#37. Daniel Bejarano- Inked with Arizona today.

#39. Crandell Head- Coach Howard confirms the signing of Crandell on his twitter account.

#40. Trevor Releford- Signed with Alabama

#45. Juwan Staten- Signed with Dayton this morning.

#46. Isaiah Epps- Will sign with Pitt today.

#48. Evan Anderson- Wisconsin Playground Warriors star staying home to play for the Badgers.

#52. Vander Blue- He’s officially inked with Marquette.

#54. Stacey Poole- Will sign at a ceremony today

#57. Meyers Leonard- Signed with Illinois today according to coach Howard’s twitter account.

#61. Tobi Oyedeji- Signed with Texas A&M today.

#63. Lorenzo Brown- Will sign with NC State today.

#69. Melvin Tabb- Just got off the phone with Melvin. He’s currently playing Call of Duty and will sign tomorrow.

#71. Tony Chennault- Inked with Wake Forest.

#72. Ryan Harrow- Signing with NC State today at a ceremony at his school. Evan Daniels is reporting that CJ Leslie is in attendance. WOW.

Now officially signed and CJ was indeed in attendance.

#77. Michael Bradley- Will sign with UConn today.

#80. Aaron Craft- Dotted with THE OHIO STATE.

#82. Jordan Siebert- Inked with the Buckeyes.

#88. Bruce Ellington- Signed with USC today. Great building block for the new staff.

Rod Odom- Will sign with Vanderbilt.

Fuquan Edwin- According to Adam Zagoria Fuquan has signed with Seton Hall already this morning.

Eric Atkins- According to his twitter account, he’s officially inked with the Irish.

Jamail Jones- According to Dave Telep he’s inked at Marquette already.

Jay Canty- Signed with Xavier.

Kene Anyigbo- According to Anthony Wireman he will sign with Western Kentucky today.

Antonio Barton- Signed with Memphis this morning.

Royce Woolridge- According to Eric Bossi, Woolrige will sign with Kansas today.

Shawn Kemp- Committed to Auburn today.

DeMarco Cox- Ole Miss has his paperwork.

Will Spradling- According to @KCPREPHOOPS Kansas State and Will are official. He’s got pictures to prove it.

Yannick Atanga- Inked with Santa Clara according to assistant coach Dustin Kearns

Curtis Washington- Inked with USC….According to scout.com blog, he etched “SC” in his head to make light of the big day.

TJ Taylor- According to coach Capel, he’s signed with Oklahoma.

Bryce Jones- Signed with USC. Kevin O’Neil has an excellent first class.

John McArthur- Signed with Santa Clara.

Flavien Davis- signed with Loyola according to Chicago Tribune

Taran Buie- Signed with Penn State.

Tyrone Garland- Virginia Tech signed him yesterday.

The three headed monster down at Findlay Prep will have to step their games up this year to make up for the loss of Avery Bradley. All three players are terrific shooters, good ball handlers, and have great IQ’s. They are also interchangeable, as all three can play some point as well as some two. Cory Joseph is one of the premier on ball defenders in the country and should be given the responsibility of running the offense in the half court. Nick Johnson’s arrival should help offset the loss of Bradley as he can score in the half court and in transition. Brown does a little bit of everything and should be a terrific leader for the younger guys. Very deep, very talented, and very experienced.

2. Nadir Tharpe/Will Barton- Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, NH)

Tharpe is a pass first point guard with great instincts and excellent quickness. He seems to always make the right play in transition which is where he excels. Barton is the 10th ranked player in the class of 2010. He’s a prolific scorer who can do it in a variety of ways. These two unbelievable guards are the reason you can find Brewster #8 in my Pre-Season Magnificent 25.

3. Juwan Staten/Doron Lamb- Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA)

Staten is a winner. Plain and simple. He was the floor general this summer for an All-Ohio Red team that won every tournament they played in this summer. Having Jared Sullinger helps, but Staten was a huge part of their success. Lamb is a combo guard who has a terrific mid range game. He was the MVP of the Mobile Elite 24 and is one of the most versatile scorer’s in the country.

4. Gary Franklin/Tyler Lamb- Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)

The California connection is definitely the best backcourt on the West Coast. Franklin is a great leader, shooter, and playmaker. He’s a steady player who rarely makes mistakes. Lamb is a UCLA commit and terrific scorer. He’s got an excellent body and might be the premier guard out West.

5. Kyrie Irving/Derrick Gordon- St.Patrick (Elizabeth, NJ)

Kyrie Irving is the #1 point guard in the country. There’s not much to be said about his game that most people don’t already know. He’s dynamic with the ball, can score and pass equally effectively, and is an excellent leader. I’m having a tough time finding something he can’t do. Derrick Gordon is a terrific shooting guard and Western Kentucky commit. He’s ready to take on a bigger role this year. It isn’t all about Kyrie and Michael Gilchrest. If they want to win the National Championship, Gordon will have to give them big time production.

6. Josh Selby/Antonio Barton- Lake Clifton-Eastern (Baltimore, MD)

Selby is a dynamic point guard who wears his emotions on his sleeve. He’s got elite athleticism and can score in bunches. Antonio is the brother of Will Barton and often lives in his shadow. It’s not justified though, cause this young man can hoop as well.

7. Quin Cook/Jerian Grant- Dematha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)

Cook is a terrific floor general who looks to get his teammates involved before he looks for his own shot. He’s an outstanding leader who makes sure his guys are getting the ball in a position to succeed. He’s a good ball handler and can get to the basket. Grant is a very athletic two guard who can score the ball. He’s a Notre Dame commit who can really get after it in transition.

8. Joe Jackson/Andre Hollins- White Station HS (Memphis, TN)

Mr. Clutch has quickly become one of my favorite players in the country to watch. He’s lightning quick with the ball, never stops attacking, and works his tail off till the buzzer sounds. He might have had the most impressive summer of any guard in the country playing for the Memphis Magic. Hollins exploded during the AAU circuit after a relatively quiet year. He should bounce back this year with increased confidence and an improved all-around game. This kid can really get hot from down town and has more athleticism than people realize.

9. Myck Kabongo/Mike Poole- St. Benedict’s (Newark, NJ)

Kabongo gives all out effort on both ends of the court at all times. He’s explosive, understands how to run an offense, and will be counted on to lead St. Benedict’s this season. Poole is a guard with outstanding size. At 6-6 he should become an outstanding defender. He’s got the frame and the determination to guard multiple positions. He can also score the ball. He can shoot it some and get to the cup.

10. Trevor Releford/Rodney Givens- Bishop Miege HS (Shawnee Mission, KS)

Releford is the marquee player in Kansas City. He’s an ultra quick point guard with superb handles and can easily get to the tin when he wants. Givens is an excellent shooter who should get plenty of open looks due to Releford’s ability drive and dish. This backcourt should have their way in the KC Metro area.

So on the eve of the new prep season, let’s take a look at the players and teams that should play a big role in the city.

Top Players in the KC Metro

Senior Trevor Releford (Bishop Miege) should lead the discussion. Not only is the point guard considered to be one of the best in the country, but also his summer performance with KC Pump N Run has started a recruiting war between Alabama, Arizona and Oklahoma. With a very different style of play, Will Spradling (Shawnee Mission South – 2010) has to be among the finest guards the city has ever produced. Already committed to Kansas State, his combination of deadly shooting and court savvy has produced a player that is a must-see for high school purists. Senior Frank Williams (Raytown) had a breakout summer with MOKAN Elite and as a result was invited to the prestigious Paul Pierce Nike Skills Camp. The 6’5” Williams is extremely long, athletic and can shoot the lights out. Though just a junior, Nino Williams (Leavenworth), will be one of the city’s major impact players. Great range, an unbelievable finisher, and as athletic a two guard as you will find, he already has Big 12 and Pac 10 offers. 6’8” Dillon Starzl (Kearney) and 6’7” Steve Carver (SM Northwest) lead the class of big men. Starzl is a hard-edged finisher while Carver has a great mid-range game and soft hands. And 6’4” Mark Braden (transfer from O’Hara to Center) may be the best combo guard in Kansas City and is most likely to make highlight reels at the next level. Bret Comer, who transferred to Winter Park, FL, signed with Florida Atlantic after his sophomore season at Blue Valley Northwest, and although Perry Ellis (Wichita Heights) only plays his summers in Kansas City, we must note his ranking at the top of many 2012 lists as he continues to be pursued by Kansas, North Carolina and others.

Additional Players to Watch

• Maurice Holliday, Jr. – 6’4” SG – Sumner Academy (2010)
• Joey Quigley – 6’8” PF – Staley High School (2010)
• AJ Spencer – 6’6” SF – Shawnee Mission Northwest (2011)
• Dylan Robinson – 6’1” PG – Northeast (2010)
• Deontae Hooks – 6’4” PG – Harmon (2010)

Unknown Players that could Emerge as Stars this Season

Grandview’s Tyler Rambo (2010) had a phenomenal summer for MOKAN Elite and at 6’5” can play the two or three. He, along with Releford, may be the best defender in the city. Look for Rozell Nunn (Schlagle 2011) to have a breakout season after blowing a knee his sophomore year as he will shoot and attack in the wide-open Stallions offense. David Kravish (Lee Summit North 2011) is 6’9” and still growing thanks to a late growth spurt and Jon Williams (transfer from Hickman Mills to Park Hill South) is a 6’7” junior who coaches say has big upside.

Other sleepers

• Tyler Kalinowski – 6’2” SG – Olathe East (2011)
• Bubba Starling – 6’4” SG/SF – Gardner Edgerton (2011)
• Corey Hillard – 6’1” SG – Raytown (2011)
• Quantel Denson – 6’8” PF – Grandview (2012)
• DJ Jackson – 6’0” PG – O’Hara (2011)

The Youth Movement

One of the finest players in the city might actually be a freshman. Ishmael Wainwright (2013) will bring to Raytown South a 6’5” chiseled frame, toughness and the game to eventually be a high-major player. Ryan Murphy (2012) is 6’5” but moves more like a small guard. He and his twin brother Colin Murphy led Basehor to the 4A state championship as freshman. Zach Large (Truman 2012) hit a game-winning three to give MOKAN Elite’s 15s the Hoop City championship and showed incredible shooting touch as a freshman. He could lead the city in scoring. Sophomore Clint McCullough (St. James Academy) is one of Kansas City’s best power forwards. At 6’6” and growing, he has a solid mid-range game and is extremely gritty inside. In a contrast of size, Sumner Academy’s 5’5” Bennie Parker (2012) is probably the fastest point Kansas City has seen since Quinton Day. Willie Cauley (2012) hails from Spearville, KS and has turned heads with his 6’10” size and terrific shot blocking.

Other Youngsters to Watch

• Dominique Wilson- 6′9″- Piper (2012)
• KJ Pritchard – 6’2” SG – Lawrence (2012)
• Tory Miller – 6’8” PF – Lee’s Summit North (2013)
• Davis Reid – 6’2” PG – Olathe Northwest (2012)
• Conell Dooley – 6’0” PG – Hogan Prep (2013)

Best Teams in KC this year

Bishop Miege(KS) should be at the top of the metro based on Releford’s ability to control tempo and pressure offenses. Miege also returns shooter Rodney Givens and junior Curtis Okafur, who at 6’5” will provide inside strength. However, the Stags’ success could come on the decision of football recruit Justin McCay, and whether he decides to play basketball. Shawnee Mission Northwest(KS) is also poised for another great year. The Cougars return 6′8 Senior Steve Carver along with several starters including Spencer and junior Trey Fruehling. Olathe South(KS) returns outstanding players such as Marquis Addison, Derrick Cole and Charles McAllister while Sumner Academy(KS) will be looking to build on last years State run, returning leading scorer/rebounder Holliday, Jr. and lightning quick point guard Parker to go along with 6′5” Junior Eli Alexander. Leavenworth(KS), with Nino Williams and Alec Zeck, will be a force in the Sunflower League and expect Rockhurst(MO) to surprise people with no real standout players but a solid roster from top to bottom. Both Shawnee Mission South(KS), led by Spradling, and Blue Valley West(KS) will be in the mix in Kansas based on strong coaching foundations and deep teams.

The top team on the Missouri side of the city should be Kearney(MO) with Starzl and most starters returning. With Rambo and Denson, Grandview(MO) will challenge for a state championship, and Mark Braden’s transfer to Center(MO) where he will join Anthony Rule, will make the Hornets a powerhouse in the city league. Raytown South(MO) – with standout Hillard to go along with newcomer Wainwright – and Raytown(MO) – led by Williams and a new head coach as well as an athletic cast returning from the 2008 season – should both contend for District championships. Park Hill South may be the surprise on the Missouri side with transfer Jon Williams and a solid group of returners.

Top Teams on Both Sides of the State Line

Top 5 Kansas teams
1. Bishop Miege
2. Olathe South
3. Sumner Academy
4. Shawnee Mission Northwest
5. Leavenworth

Top 5 Missouri teams
1. Kearney
2. Grandview
3. Raytown South
4. Center
5. Raytown & Park Hill South

As Kansas City continues its rise as a prominent basketball community, 2009-10 should be one of the best years in recent memory. With a collection of excellent players and competitive programs battling it out for championships, the winter will be a time to see KC metro’s best.

To follow the season, join me on Twitter at KCPREPHOOPS