Players to Watch – Kansas City Bigs
<p>There are always players who haven’t made varsity impact who stand out in the summer. These players bear watching to see if they can translate their summer growth to a role at their high school.</p>
<p>Here are some KC bigs to watch as we transition to school ball:</p>
<p><strong>Ryan Cummings</strong>, 6-foot-4 forward, 2023, Mill Valley:</p>
<p>A really versatile and solid contributor on the club scene this summer, watch for Cummings to have a nice role this fall. He can play inside and out, and runs the floor really well for his size. He works hard on the glass scores with smooth moves through the lane.</p>
<p>[player_tooltip player_id="1212173" first="Fernando" last="Gracia"], 6-foot-5 forward, 2023, Olathe North:</p>
<p>A real eye-opener this summer, Gracia stood out with his ability to block shots and hit from the perimeter. He could be a big riser in KC this year if his summer showing translates. He floated off his man to pick up drivers and reject a surprising number of shots. Gracia also showed an ability to drift from the lane to an open spot for a three, which he hit at a high rate.</p>
<p><strong>Aiden Werth</strong>, 6-foot-5 forward, 2022, Aquinas:</p>
<p>A long forward who plays with great intensity, Werth can handle the ball from end to end and battles hard in the lane. Werth has been an important reserve for Aquinas, averaging 4.2 points and 3.3 boards as a junior. He’s a gritty veteran who will do what it takes to help the team.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1185196" first="Ryan" last="Yankovich"]</strong>, 6-foot-6 center, 2022, Aquinas (pictured):</p>
<p>Yankovich will give Aquinas options to go big in the fall. He was a key reserve, averaging 2.9 points and 2.0 rebounds as a junior. He showed a lot of ability this summer to bang and score in the paint. He can face the bucket and hit the jumper too. He gets high marks for his hands and footwork in the paint.</p>
<p><strong>Spencer Owens</strong>, 6-foot-3 forward, 2023, Blue Valley:</p>
<p>Owens is an athletic and creative player in the post, making spin moves and turnaround jumpers. He shows the ability to score with both hands. He runs the floor and has good hands on the move. Best of all, he’s physical and tough, ready to do battle in the lane.</p>
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