Northeast KS Guards Who Impressed in Early February

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week we featured some of the top big men we watched recently. We also got a chance to see some great play by guards who deserve a shout out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some guards from NE Kansas who impressed recently:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1461342' first='Zac' last='Evans'], 6-foot guard, 2024, Valley Falls:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This guy does not get the credit he deserves. He is special in that he can beat you in so many ways. Sometimes he blows up from deep. But that's just the tip of the spear for Evans. He is dynamite in the open court with his handle and speed. He can get to the rim, and he draws a lot of fouls, which produces a lot of free throws. He is a top rebounder from the guard position too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Simon Everhart</strong>, 6-foot-2 guard, 2024, Cair Paravel:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A guy who flies under the radar because of where he plays, Everhart deserves to be known. He is a really slick ball handler who fearlessly attacks defenses. He uses his length and explosiveness to get a lot of shots at the rim. He is dangerous at all three levels and shoots a good percentage from deep. Everhart is the leader of a very competitive team that is not getting much publicity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jakoby McDonnell</strong>, 5-foot-5 guard, 2026, Rossville:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McDonnell is a firecracker. He comes off the bench and brings instant energy. He goes all out, throwing his body on the floor, into walls and into the stands to create action. He is one of the quickest guards around and has a tight handle and an instinct for the point guard spot. He's a pass-first guard who brings something different to a team that is very long and loves to launch it from deep. He stirs things up with his in-your-face defensive intensity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tre'vion Ruffin</strong>, 5-foot-9 guard, 2024, Junction City:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the other guards at Junction City have received more attention, but it's arguable that the best ball handler and distributor is Ruffin. He dribbles low to the ground and weaves his way through traffic with impressive confidence. Like McDonnell, Ruffin is focused on taking care of the ball and getting it to shooters. He is lighting-quick and not afraid to push it at top speed. Junction City lives on the edge and plays about as fast as anyone in the state, and Ruffin is key to the strategy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jamon Wilson</strong>, 6-foot guard, 2025, Highland Park:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He might not be all of the “6-foot” that he's listed in the program, but the star running back plays about as big and as physical on the court as he does on the gridiron. He uses his strength and great handle to get into the teeth of defenses. He kicks it to perimeter shooters or drops it to a post or cutter. Wilson is a fiery competitor who wants to make plays. He was a contributor to the third-place finish last year, so he's proven at the highest level. He's now got the reigns full time of one of the best teams in 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->