These Kansas 17U Forwards Shined at the Jayhawk Jam

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jayhawk Jam wrapped up Sunday afternoon with teams from across the Midwest battling from start to finish. With 26 teams in the 17U division, it was an opportunity for Kansas kids to show the region what they can do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Probably the most dominant forward in the 17U division was Hesston stud [player_tooltip player_id='2314796' first='Adrian' last='Hernandez'], who relentlessly battered the opponents at both ends. No one is surprised that the veteran state champ was able do so much damage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five other Kansas forwards who shined in the 17U category at the Jayhawk Jam (in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will Beck</strong>, 6-foot-5 forward, 2025, Shawnee Mission East, Kruse Elite Gold:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beck may have been the hardest working man at the Jayhawk Jam. He's a long, lean slasher who never lets up. He raced up the court to be a presence in transition and to clean up missed shots. He has a lot of spring, good foot speed, but it's his effort that elevates his game. He defends the paint and chases down plays at the defensive end. Beck handles the ball well and is a top-notch shooter from every level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kyle Boggess</strong>, 6-foot-3 forward, 2025, Blue Valley, Livin' the Dream:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lanky forward who has skills both on the perimeter and in the lane, Boggess can put the ball on the floor and shoot it from the perimeter. He has height to see over defenders and the length to get shots off or to find angles for passes. He helps move the ball and shares it unselfishly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2416781' first='Corbin' last='Dierking']</strong>, 6-foot-1 forward, 2025, Sublette, Magic Basketball White:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dierking plays bigger than his height. He plays with physicality and doesn't back down in the paint. He can get shots off against taller posts and can also move to the midrange and three-point line to knock down shots. He scored 21 points in one game at the Jayhawk Jam. He blocked some shots and showed good fundamental moves on the block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2413178' first='Brody' last='Keller']</strong>, 6-foot-4 forward, 2025, Syracuse, Magic Basketball Blue:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keller really showed what a small-school big man can do in a showcase event. He demonstrated a ton of versatility and playmaking ability. Keller is a mismatch for a lot of opponents. He has good size and can mix it up physically with big men, or he can overwhelm smaller guys. He hit shots and powered his way to the goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braden Mann</strong>, 6-foot-5 forward, 2025, Gardner-Edgerton, Livin' the Dream:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big man with a high IQ, Mann is really good at delivering passes from the post or on the perimeter. He sees the floor, which is easy when you're 6-foot-5. He is an effective post presence and a confident shooter. Mann is big but has soft hands and good touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->