Kansas City-area End of Summer Risers – Wings

<p>Everyone knows about <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889454" first="Jack" last="Chapman"], [player_tooltip player_id="891898" first="Aidan" last="Shaw"], [player_tooltip player_id="599745" first="Tamar" last="Bates"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="787626" first="Mark" last="Mitchell"]</strong>. Most of the best players in KC are wings. But just because those guys get the lion’s share of the headlines doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of up-and-comers to watch.</p> <p>Here is a look at some of the KC-area wings who were the top risers this summer (in alphabetical order and with club and high school and grad year listed):</p> <p><strong>Gage Hollenbeck, Team KC – Kerr 15U, Blue Valley Northwest, 2023:</strong></p> <p>Hollendeck can shoot the lights out. He is 6-foot-3 and athletic, so he’s not limited to just the perimeter. He can drive and score, particularly on runners and pull-up jumpers. His versatility includes the ability to find open shooters on the drive. He doesn’t let up on the defensive end. He is aggressive and tough.</p> <p><strong>Zach Sand, Team KC – Kerr 15U, Blue Valley North, 2023:</strong></p> <p>The 6-foot-2 Sand is best at taking the ball in the open court and driving the lane. He has his head up to pass, and finds open teammates for easy shots. He can also get shots off in the lane and convert or draw fouls. He is really good at going end to end with the ball and breaking apart a defense, but he can also catch and shoot from the perimeter.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="946269" first="Sam" last="Somerhalder"], Team KC - Derrick 16U, St. James Academy, 2022:</strong></p> <p>When versatility is found in a 6-foot-7 package, you’ve got something special. Somerhalder will just as easily break down a defender off the drive as catch in the midrange and knock down his smooth jumper. He isn’t a bulky guy, but he gets to the rim and converts or draws fouls. He has the passing ability and vision of a guard and he is unselfish.</p>