Prospect Spotlight: Skyler Rhoads (2019)
One of the KC area’s most underrated big men, Shawnee Mission South post player Skyler Rhoads is off the a big season. At 6’5, the senior has soft hands, a good shooting touch around the basket and out to 15-17…
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Continue ReadingOne of the KC area’s most underrated big men, Shawnee Mission South post player Skyler Rhoads is off the a big season.
At 6’5, the senior has soft hands, a good shooting touch around the basket and out to 15-17 feet and can hit the boards at both ends of the floor.
He spent the offseason playing for the KC Spurs White and the KC Spurs Silver teams and said he gained a lot of valuable experience.
“I would almost never come out and the offense ran through me most of the time,” he said. “I think playing during the summer helped me by exposing me to good competition and helped me with knowing how to deal with double teams and things like that.”
Rhoads says he spent much of the offseason improving his athleticism and defense.
“I was a bigger guy than I was last year and I know if I wanted to be a threat next year that I had to be quicker and in better condition,” he says. “I also worked on my defense a lot over the summer so I could guard smaller guys and not just posts.”
Shawnee Mission South is off to a strong start this season and have a host of seniors who bring leadership and experience.
“Our high school team this year is dangerous,” Rhoads said. “We have six seniors who all can pop off for 20 any night and five of us have been playing since middle school and our team chemistry is really good. Also we have in my opinion the best coaching duo in Kansas in the Mcfall’s.
“They know the talent we have and designs plays around that talent. We have been talking about this season since freshman year and we are excited what we can show everybody this season.”
Rhoads says his former AAU coach has been the biggest impact on his basketball career to date.
“Coach Val … He taught me a lot of post skills and guard play so I could maybe play at the next level,” Rhoads said. “Also my current high school coach has taught a lot and has shown me how to be a hard worker and to put in work day in and day out.”
A fan of the Denver Nuggets’ big ma Nikola Jokic, Rhoads says he has tried to take various elements of the NBA star’s game and make them his own.
“He (Jokic) isn’t that athletic but can dominate on the post,” Rhoads said. “I also like his passing and his way he can stretch the floor. Yeah I try and mimic how jokic draws fouls and his post moves when I’m on the court.”
Rhoads says he has not yet heard from any college programs, but hopes that will change with a big senior year.
“I would love to play college basketball and I’ll do anything to get any type of offer,” he says. “I feel like I could bring a lot to any college team who would choose to offer me anything.”