POY Watchlist: Week 7

<p>The State Player of the year is one of the most prestigious awards a prep player can take home in his career. No POY race in recent memory has had as many potential candidates as this one. Throughout the season PH will keep you updated with the POY race. In this article, we take a look at the candidates after week 7.</p> <p><em>Favorites:</em></p> <p><strong>Julian Strawther 6’6 SF Liberty 2020  (#2 2020)</strong> – Strawther gets a chance to bring his show to Illinois for the Quincy Shootout.</p> <p><strong>Daishen Nix 6’5 PG Trinity International 2020 (#1 2020)</strong> – Nix will be all over the map this week. He makes a return to his native state of Alaska, and he will also play local talent Desert Pines.</p> <p><strong>Jaden Hardy 6’4 PG Coronado 2021 (#1 2021)</strong> – Hardy put together another masterful week.</p> <p><strong>Zaon Collins 6’1 PG Bishop Gorman 2021</strong> <strong>(#2 2021)</strong> – Collins has really elevated his game. The junior playmaker is leading National power Bishop Gorman in every statistical category nightly. Big test this week as he takes on Oak Hill, and Coronado.</p> <p><em>Contenders:</em></p> <p><strong>Milos Uzan 6’3 PG Desert Pines 2022 (#3PHN 2022) – </strong>A ho-hum week for Uzan. The Jags cruised in two blowout wins, so Uzan didn't really get the minutes to put up huge numbers. He has a terrific matchup this week against Nix.</p> <p><strong>Will McClendon 6’4 SG Bishop Gorman 2021 (#3 2021)</strong> – A lot of the things said about Collins could apply to McClendon. He is a big game player that has kept a depleted Gorman squad in National contention. Big national stage for him this week at the Hoophall.</p> <p><strong>Mason Whittaker 6’5 PG Spanish Springs 2020 (#44 2020)</strong> – Not a bad week for Whittaker, he put up 28 points in 28 minutes against McQueen.</p> <p><strong>Donavan Yap 6’2 SG Arbor View 2020 (#5 2020)</strong>  – Look for Yap to continue to rise. Arbor View has used conference play to build chemistry. Led by Yap, they will be a dangerous team come playoff time.</p> <p><strong>M’Wani Wilkinson 6’6 SF Bishop Gorman 2020 (#4PHN 2020)</strong> – Wilkinson has quietly put together a POY type season. He has been the glue holding the Gaels together during a difficult stretch of the season. While he hasn’t always been the best player on the floor, he has consistently been one of the two best.</p> <p><em>Dark Horses:</em></p> <p><strong>Anthony Hunter 5’11 PG Durango 2020 (#6 2020)</strong> – Keep an eye out for Anthony Hunter. The 5’11 PG has already proven he can carry Durango to victories. He's a good two-way player that can be Durango's focal point on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.</p> <p><strong>Ethan Speaker 6’6 SF Boulder City 2021 (#8 2021)</strong> – Speaker is playing out of his mind. The wing stud is averaging over 28 per game over his last 6 games. He's putting these numbers up against a 4A heavy schedule as well.</p> <p><strong>Glenn Taylor 6’5 SF Cheyenne 2021 (#4 2021)</strong> – Taylor is a name that everyone should get used to. The junior from Cheyenne does it all for his team. Taylor is a D1 prospect that is performing like a D1 player every time he steps on the floor. Thanks to his play, the Desert Shields are right in the thick of the conference hunt.</p> <p><em>Long Shots:</em></p> <p><strong>Keshon Gilbert 6’2 PG Durango 2021 (#7 2021)</strong> – With the success, Durango has had, expect Gilbert's stock to rise.</p> <p><strong>Michael Klekas 6’3 SF Elko 2022</strong> – <strong>(#10 2022)</strong> – It's not just the fact that he's the leading scorer in the state. Klekas also has 11 consecutive games with double-digit rebounds.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>