BLUE VALLEY: Youngsters on the Rise
STILLWELL, Kan. — The second night of the Blue Valley Shootout saw Lawrence and Lee’s Summit North advance to the championship game, which will be played on Friday. Lawrence defeated Grandview, while Lee’s Summit North got past host Blue Valley.…
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Continue ReadingSTILLWELL, Kan. — The second night of the Blue Valley Shootout saw Lawrence and Lee’s Summit North advance to the championship game, which will be played on Friday. Lawrence defeated Grandview, while Lee’s Summit North got past host Blue Valley.
In the consolation bracket, Ruskin defeated Sumner, while Olathe South ran away from Wyandotte.
Here, Prep Hoops Kansas takes a look at several of the tournament’s top youngsters.
Jaron Briggs, Jr., 6’2, G, 2022, Sumner (Kan.)
Briggs had it all working in the first half of Thursday’s consolation semifinal contest against Ruskin (Mo.), knocking down a pair of 3-pointers, going 5 for 5 at the free throw line and playing with poise in a game that was largely a scramble. He finished with 15 points in the first half, then sat out the entire third quarter before making an impact in the final frame. Briggs is a smooth guard who can handle it and attack the basket under control.
Elijah Corner, 6’2, F, 2021, Ruskin
Corner had the play of the day on Thursday when he threw down a two-handed slam in traffic on an inbounds lob pass from under the basket. He got off to a slow start on Thursday in the Eagles’ contest against Sumner, scoring one point in the first half, but put together some solid moments in the second half, knocking down a 3 and scoring nine points.
Brenden Eckles, 6’5, F, 2021, Olathe South
A transfer from Barstow (Mo.), Eckles is a skilled forward with good athleticism and an inside-out skill set. He can score in the paint, using his size and quick jumping ability, but is skilled enough to step away from the basket and beat a big to the basket. He showed the ability to consistently knock down outside shots, and has range out past the 3-point arc with good form, balance and a repeatable shooting stroke. He knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 14 points and five rebounds in a runaway win over Wyandotte.
Taj Manning, 6’6, G/F, 2022, Grandview (Mo.)
Manning is one of the state’s top incoming freshmen and combines a lot of impressive physical tools with a well-rounded skill set for a youngster. He probably didn’t have his best game on Thursday at the offensive end against Lawrence, one of the top teams in Kansas, but shows a lot of promise with a developing inside-out game against good size and athleticism.
Zeke Mayo, 6’2, G, 2021, Lawrence (Kan.)
Mayo probably didn’t have his best offensive game on Thursday against Grandview, but the talented guard played a solid all-around floor game, handling the ball, attacking the basket and made several smart, on-time passes out of dribble penetration. He finished with eight points and six rebounds, including a breakaway dunk with 2:10 remaining that helped seal the Lions’ win over Grandview.