Midwest Showcase Friday Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at some of the top standouts from Friday's first of action at the Midwest Showcase at Homefield in Olathe, KS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2468297,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4866.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4866.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2468297" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1424917' first='Elias' last='Govan'] (Parkview): The 6'6" 2025 forward scored 21 points in his first game against Principia. He has good athleticism and a motor that did not stop running. He is a fierce rebounder who was getting up over a crowd to grab boards. He also gets out and runs the court every chance he gets. On offense, he was at his best when he was attacking as he got several buckets on the drive through contact. He is also a very unselfish player who made a number of good passes to set up his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>********</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2468236,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4859.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4859.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2468236" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2334930' first='Brandon' last='Rooks'] (Battle): A 6'1" 2027 point guard who scored 20 points in the Spartans victory over Putnam City West to open the event. He plays the game like someone who is much older than a high school sophomore with his fundamentals and high basketball IQ. He is under control and very poised. He shooting stroke was on point as he knocked down four 3-pointers in the game. He can come off the screen or dribble into a 3-pointer off the bounce. He passes well as he was looking to advance the ball up court with the long lead pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*********</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2468376,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4912.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4912.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2468376" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1850452' first='Landon' last='Van Pelt'] (Lee's Summit): A 6'9" 250-pound 2026 forward who had a big performance on Friday afternoon with 18 points. When he set up shot in the low post, he was tough to move and he powered his way inside for easy buckets. He also showed a nice touch in the lane with a 12 foot turnaround jumper off one leg. He even hit a 3-pointer in the second half. He was also very active as he had one impressive rim-run which led to a tip-in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*********</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2468377,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4940.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4940.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2468377" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1790000' first='Ethan' last='Brown'] (Rolla): The 6'4" 2026 guard had a strong showing against Jacksonville (AR) with a game-high 27 points. He scored 18 of those points in first half as he displayed his deep offensive bag. He was hitting 3-pointers from well beyond the 3-point line and scoring on slippery drives going to his left for layups. He also threw down a transition dunk off his own steal. He is also a very good passer who makes his teammates better. When the defense threw an extra defender or two at him, he was finding the open teammate or delivering the hockey assist that led to an open shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2468378,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4894.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4894.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2468378" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2352805' first='Quentin' last='Coleman'] (Principia): A 6'0" 2026 combo guard who scored 21 points in the Panthers victory over Parkview in their first game of the weekend. He is a potent offensive player who was scoring at all three levels. He is very smooth on the drive and he has a feathery touch from 3-point range. In recent weeks, he has also been displaying some explosive athleticism, which came in the form of a nice one-handed tip dunk in traffic. He also did a good job of passing and playmaking during the this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2468379,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4966.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4966.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2468379" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kam Tate (North Kansas City): A 6'1" 2025 guard who scored 22 points in NKC's victory in the evening session. When he gets the ball, he is playing at "Full Tilt Boogie" as he puts constant pressure on the defense with his ability to attack. It was either a layup or a drop off to an open teammate for an open shot. He also had it working from long distance as he knocked down four 3-pointers, which makes him a very tough cover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>********<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2468477,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_5034.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_5034.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2468477" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1562794' first='Devin' last='Sanford'] (Springfield Central): The 6'1" 2025 guard had an excellent performance in the Bulldogs' victory over Bentonville West to close the evening session. He is one of the top perimeter shooters in the SWMO area, which he showed with three 3-pointers. He was also getting buckets in other ways as he looked to score off the bounce quite often. He was elevating on his mid-range jumper and he also scored at the rim a couple of times in impressive fashion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*********</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2468518,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4999.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/IMG_4999.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2468518" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shawnee Mission Northwest edges Vashon in the Game of the Day</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest matchups of the first day of action was a showdown between Vashon and Shawnee Mission Northwest (KS). Both teams are coming off state championships in their respective states. Not surprisingly, this game drew a big crowd of spectators as well as a large contingent of college coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shawnee Mission Northwest pulled out a 52-48 decision in a game that was close from start to finish. It was a battle of SMNW's size against Vashon's speed. SMNW got big games from 2025s Keaton Wagler and Van Collins. Wagler is a 6'6" combo guard who is one of the top players in Kansas. He has deep shooting range and excellent playmaking skills. Collins is a 6'4" wing player who could also shoot it, but he was tough on the drive as he got downhill for a number of buckers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vashon countered with its speed, led by 2025 guards Trey Williams Jr. and [player_tooltip player_id='1424400' first='Christian' last='Williams']. Both are capable long-distance shooters with the ability to score in the lane. Brothers [player_tooltip player_id='1557386' first='Dehrio' last='McCaskill'] (6'4, 2025) and [player_tooltip player_id='2090498' first='Kain' last='McCaskill'] (6'2" 2026) are a pair of athletic guards who can make things happen at the rim. Jimmy McKinney III is a 6'0" 2027 guard who can score at all three levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->