Top 250 Expo Preview: Headliners
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The Kansas Top 250 Expo will bring together top players from across Kansas for one day. It presents a rare opportunity to see many of the best talents together under one roof, giving guys from different grades and different size…
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Continue ReadingThe Kansas Top 250 Expo will bring together top players from across Kansas for one day. It presents a rare opportunity to see many of the best talents together under one roof, giving guys from different grades and different size schools a chance to measure themselves.
On hand will be a handful of unproven younger players (including some 2026s), as well as older guys who for whatever reason haven’t gotten much playing time on varsity yet. They will pit themselves against older, established veterans who have earned a lot of notoriety.
Most of the guys who also play football won’t be in attendance (although some will). But there will be no lack of star power in KC. Here are the headliners of the Kansas Top 250 Expo:
Burton earned honorable mention in 6A as a sophomore and demonstrated his talents in high-profile club events throughout the summer. He’s not seen at a lot local circuit events, so this should be a treat for those who watch him match up against Kansans his own age. Burton is a slender leaper with guard skills who is now listed in the Expo roster at 6-foot-6.
Fresh off a 6A state title, Zeigler is respected across the state for his quarterbacking ability. He’s long and wiry for a point man and can get in the lane and get his own shot. He stuffed the stat sheet for the Falcons as a junior with 3.6 boards and 2.6 assists to go with his 13.7 points per game. As a first-team all-stater and one of the oldest and most experienced players at the Expo, he will be the measuring stick for the other point guards in attendance.
Brandl is at the other end of the spectrum from Burton and Zeigler in that he does his work for 1A Greeley County. His stats for the 1A state champs were eye popping. But Brandl showed at plenty of club events over the summer that he has the skills to hang with anyone. He’s a big, powerful guard who can overwhelm a smaller opponent. He has the diverse skill set to do whatever is needed by the group he runs with.
Sawyers has long impressed scouts by his ability and willingness to do whatever is needed. He’s unselfish and smart. He’s now listed at 6-foot-7, which means his point forward skills will appear even more dynamic. He sees the floor and passes effectively. He runs the floor and can face the bucket or play with his back to the goal. As a junior, he averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
Dodge stepped into a big role as a sophomore for Shawnee Heights and produced with 14.5 points per game, despite defenses doing all they could to take him out of his game. He hit 34 percent from deep and adjusted as defenses dictated. Dodge showed during the summer that he can patiently wait for opportunities, making smart decisions and not forcing anything. But he can heat up and take over a game for stretches.
Highlights
One of the top 2025s in the state, Robinson will have a chance to demonstrate the growth of his game at the Expo. Primarily a post player off the bench for the Scots, Robinson expanded the diversity of his game this summer, facing the goal, handling the ball in the open floor and stretching his range. He will bring a toughness and physicality that will be fun to watch at the Expo.