KC-area 2024 Playmakers Impress at Hoops City

<p>The Hoops City Classic in Kansas City last weekend featured some flashy playmaking from KC guards. Here are some guys who stood out as playmakers in the showcase:</p> <p><strong>Madut Bol</strong>, 5-foot-11 guard, Olathe West, Phenom:</p> <p>For his height, Bol has long arms and plays with length. He crashes the boards from the guard spot and mixes it up for every loose ball. He moves the ball on the perimeter, lurking around for his opportunity to let if fly from behind the arc. He's an athletic and tough player for the Phenom, a team with several talented and unselfish guards.</p> <p><strong>Tate Everard</strong>, 6-foot-1 guard, Blue Valley Southwest, Phenom:</p> <p>Everard is a skilled guard who plays with the type of physicality that would allow him to play on the wing. But he's adept at attacking from the point, getting into the lane on the bounce and using his body to create shot opportunities. Everard plays athletic and heady defense in transition, then turns rebounds into break opportunities the other way. Everard never gives up on a play and plays with toughness and intelligence.</p> <p><strong>Jalen Grace</strong>, 5-foot-11 guard, Olathe East, KC Red Storm:</p> <p>Grace showed at the Hoops Classic that he's an athletic defender who contests shots and gets his hands in the passing lane. Grace showed some nice drives off of screens on the perimeter and demonstrated a solid floater off the bounce. He also connected on hooks over defenders in the paint. Grace ran to some nice transition baskets at high speed and showed a nice handle.</p> <p><strong>Jackson Ready</strong>, 6-foot guard, Blue Valley SW, KC Spurs:</p> <p>Ready played a lot of wing for the Spurs at the Hoops Classic, and showed he can affect the game without dominating the ball. He was physical on the drive, effectively distributing some kick outs after drawing multiple defenders. He rebounded with toughness and pushed the ball the other way with intelligence.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1390595" first="Kalen" last="Streit"], 6-foot guard, Bonner Springs, Phenom:</p> <p>Following a solid varsity season, Streit is developing with the Phenom this spring with some breakout games. He has a smooth release that he gets off quickly when necessary. He showed at the Hoops Classic that he can hit really tough turnarounds in the paint. He's an aggressive defender who gets after it with long arms and quick feet.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1282581" first="Cooper" last="Welsh"], 6-foot-1 guard, Aquinas, MOKAN:</p> <p>Welsh stood out in KC for his work at the defensive end, helping off against drivers and harassing his man when he put the ball on the floor. He blocked out effectively for defensive rebounds, and occasionally pushed rebounds the other way, making smart passes or getting to the lane for a nice floater. He knocked down the open shot from the perimeter too.</p>