Capital City Spring Risers – Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Making our way across the state, looking at spring standouts, we've come to the Capital City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some Topeka guards who made an impression this spring (in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alex Delgado</strong>, 6-foot-1 guard, 2026, Shawnee Heights, 785 Athletics:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delgado really stood out to us this spring. Shawnee Heights will be in need of some guards to step forward next fall, so this is a guy to keep an eye on. He's really smooth and cool under pressure when the ball is in his hands. He has really nice length for a natural point guard. He plays at both ends well and really appears to be good at running and offense and getting the ball to scorers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1962887' first='Amare' last='Jones']</strong>, 6-foot guard, 2025, Washburn Rural, SSA:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This list might seem like an odd place to find Jones, a guy who isn't so much a “riser” as a proven varsity stud. But there is a lot of room for improvement in his game, particularly as a perimeter shooter. A consistent outside shot would really elevate his game, and the results this spring were very positive. He has hit threes at a much higher rate and appeared more confident pulling the trigger on open shots. He's got the ball handling and distribution skills down. Credit Jones for putting in the work to improve his perimeter shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Makhi Kidd</strong>, 6-foot guard, 2026, Hayden, SSA:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kidd stood out as a bouncy, active guard, particularly at the defensive end. He's very handsy and likes to jump passing lanes. He showed a lot of opportunistic traits, turning turnovers into instant offense. He has a nice handle and loves to be on the attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2039558' first='Simon' last='Rowley'], 6-foot-1 guard, 2026, Washburn Rural, SSA (pictured):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rowley might have fallen off the radar the past six months, but he took the opportunity this spring to remind everyone of his talents. After a great freshman season at Atchison, he bounced around his sophomore year. He's now listing Washburn Rural as his high school home, and he's ready to get back after it. He is a skilled offensive player, a guy who can get his own shot and handle it from end to end. He has good size and has matured some physically since his freshman year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1965355' first='Landon' last='Wiltz']</strong>, 6-foot-2 guard, 2026, Seaman, KS 94x50 Elite:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wiltz is a dead-eye shooter and an effective three-level scorer. He's very competitive and sneaky athletic. He's got nice size for a shooting guard and can do a lot of things on the court. He showed this spring that he's ready to take the next step, to be the go-to guy for an offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->