POY Watchlist: Week 8

<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 8.</p> <p><em>Favorites:</em></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mwani-wilkinson/">M’Wani Wilkinson</a> 6’6 SF Bishop Gorman 2020 (#4PHN 2020)</strong> – Last week I used the word quiet in describing Wilkinson's season. You can scratch that. MW has exploded onto the national radar, doing basically what he has been doing all year.  He has transformed himself from an elite run and jump athlete into an elite run and jump athlete that consistently makes game impacting plays.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julian-strawther/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julian-strawther/">Julian Strawther</a></a> 6’6 SF Liberty 2020  (#2 2020)</strong> – Strawther has been his dominant self. He's added to his game this season. He's faced so many double teams he has learned how to get teammates involved with his passing.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/daishen-nix/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/daishen-nix/">Daishen Nix</a></a> 6’5 PG Trinity International 2020 (#1 2020)</strong> – Nix was selected as a McDonald's AA this week. I'm excited to see him play down in Arizona in a couple of weeks.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaden-hardy/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaden-hardy/">Jaden Hardy</a></a> 6’4 PG Coronado 2021 (#1 2021)</strong> – All Hardy did is go for 39 on Saturday, play in a nationally televised game on Friday and erupt for 62 on Monday.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zaon-collins/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zaon-collins/">Zaon Collins</a></a> 6’1 PG Bishop Gorman 2021</strong> <strong>(#2 2021)</strong> – Collins battled through bumps and bruises this week. He gutted it out helping BG to a big victory over #2 Coronado. </p> <p><em>Contenders:</em></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/milos-uzan/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/milos-uzan/">Milos Uzan</a></a> 6’3 PG Desert Pines 2022 (#3PHN 2022) – </strong>Geat week for Uzan, he went for 38 on Monday against Trinity, picking up an offer from UCLA in the process.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-mcclendon/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/will-mcclendon/">Will McClendon</a></a> 6’4 SG Bishop Gorman 2021 (#3 2021)</strong> – The Gorman star committed to UCLA this week.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-whittaker/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-whittaker/">Mason Whittaker</a></a> 6’5 PG Spanish Springs 2020 (#44 2020)</strong> – Led by the play of Whittaker, the Cougars have won 7 out of 8.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/donavan-yap/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/donavan-yap/">Donavan Yap</a></a> 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><em>Dark Horses:</em></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/anthony-hunter/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/anthony-hunter/">Anthony Hunter</a></a> 5’11 PG Durango 2020 (#6 2020)</strong> – Big game for Hunter and the Trailblazers this week. They travel to Gorman for perhaps the senior's last shot at the Gaels.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keshon-gilbert/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keshon-gilbert/">Keshon Gilbert</a></a> 6’2 PG Durango 2021 (#7 2021)</strong> – Should be a fun matchup with him and <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zaon-collins/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zaon-collins/">Zaon Collins</a></a> this week.</p> <p><em>Long Shots:</em></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/glenn-taylor/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/glenn-taylor/">Glenn Taylor</a></a> 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><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ethan-speaker/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ethan-speaker/">Ethan Speaker</a></a> 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><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/michael-klekas/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/michael-klekas/">Michael Klekas</a></a> 6’3 SF Elko 2022</strong> <strong>(#10 2022)</strong> – The screams are coming in for Klekas. The sophomore stud continues to lead the state in scoring, helping Elko to a perfect conference record.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kade-madsen/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kade-madsen/">Kade Madsen</a></a> 6'2 SG Palo Verde 2020</strong> <strong>(#18 2020)</strong> - If you haven't had an opportunity to see Madsen play, you better get over to Palo soon. Madsen is the leader of an experienced and dangerous squad. Behind his play, the Panthers are 17-4 and sit atop the Mountain Northwest.</p>