Next Up: Kansas Impact Freshman
Being able to go to and have the confidence in your young guys is a great luxury as a coach, especially during a season of so many unknowns like this current one. Today we are looking at the freshman who…
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Continue ReadingBeing able to go to and have the confidence in your young guys is a great luxury as a coach, especially during a season of so many unknowns like this current one. Today we are looking at the freshman who have stood out, stepped up, or made some unexpected strides so far this season around Kansas for their varsity teams.
Bruce ‘BJ” Canady, 6’5, 2024, Topeka High: Canady impressed on the football field this season, and not is providing a huge boost to his basketball squad. He has a great frame and motor that makes him a really exciting prospect to monitor over his time in high school. His hands, touch, and feel for the game are coming along with each varsity minute that ticks and now is contributing big time in big time games against some very high quality bigs in the Centennial league.
Christian McAffee, 6’3 Forward, 2024, Sabetha: After losing a lot of their scoring and leadership punch last year with the departure of some top notch players at Sabetha, the team has been looking to new guys and returners in the program to grow. McAffee has been a surprise standout for them and is contributing big time for the varsity club. In their first win of the season last win, the Sabetha freshman scored 9 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. With tons of time to grow and minutes to be played, look for Christian to make huge strides.
Blake Rucker, 6′ Guard, 2024, Eureka: Making a big splash on to the scene for a very talented Eureka team, Rucker broke out for a 22 point performance earlier this season helping fill in for some guys who were hurt. Rucker has a ton of talent, especially on the offensive end. he can finish through contact, get out in transition and be effective, and can really shoot the ball from the perimeter. You can tell by how he plays he really loves the game, and with that passion mixed with his talent, look out.
Spencer Coup, 5’10 Guard, 2024, Solomon: Coup is going to blossom into a great point guard for Solomon during his four years there and is already helping spearhead a really solid program. He is a great blend of toughness, talent, and basketball IQ that allows him to effective on the varsity court even at an early age. Currently he is averaging 7.1 points per game, 2.4 assists per game, and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Kale Staats, 6 ft Guard, 2024, St Thomas Aquinas: This year has seen a lot of growth and development for an Aquinas team that has been playing hard night in and night out with a ton of guys learning how to win on the big stage in high school hoops. Staats is a freshman who has been growing and growing as the season has progressed and is bringing more each night to the Saints. He has been playing off the ball a lot, moving well on the perimeter, and has shot a high percentage from the field when he has his opportunities. He is a physical defender and causes disruption for offenses and has drawn some tough matchups this season and has shown up. Staats has a bright future for Aquinas.
Eli Lawson, 6’6 Forward, 2024, Bennington: A force on the floor who has busted on to the high school varsity scene making an absolute statement is Eli Lawson. In his freshman season he is currently averaging 13.2 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. His size and athleticism make him a really difficult matchup for a lot of the teams on the schedule and he is putting his imprint on games each night. He is a solid rim protector, with 16 blocks on the season in 12 games as well.