KS Top 250 Expo: 2022/2023 Top Forwards
The class of 2022 and 2023 represented well this past Saturday at the KS Top 250 Expo at Okun Fieldhouse. The group of forwards and posts showed off their versatility, toughness, and touch in all 6 game sessions throughout the…
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Continue ReadingThe class of 2022 and 2023 represented well this past Saturday at the KS Top 250 Expo at Okun Fieldhouse. The group of forwards and posts showed off their versatility, toughness, and touch in all 6 game sessions throughout the day.
Let’s take a look and highlight some of the big guys who stood out and showed up big time on Saturday.
Jack Wilson, 6’6 Forward/Post, Manhattan High, 2023
Wilson is a kid that eye balls from across the state of Kansas need to be on. The Manhattan High product showed off his wide array of offensive ability on Saturday and is an absolute threat wherever he is on the floor. In game one, the 6’6 forward knocked down 4 threes on 4 attempts and complimented the outside game with soft baby hooks using both his right and left hands. He was extremely comfortable playing from 15 feet in and utilizes both the inside reverse pivot and square up moves well. As the day progress his motor started to kick in and his rim running and leading breaks gave him another weapon with at his size made the game really easy for him finishing in transition. Only being in the class of 2023, Wilson has tons of time to continue to grow both physically and with his skills and his ceiling is through the roof.
Brady Klotz. 6’4 Forward, Royal Valley, 2022
Klotz has the size and quickness to be a really tough person to contain and constantly bang with in the post. He was extremely physical all day on the defensive and offensive boards and showed off his great ability to outlet the ball to lead the break. Where Klotz shined the most on Saturday was in the mid post area where he has a smooth stroke and knocked down multiple elbow area jumpers and sprinkled in a couple of threes on the day. Klotz was also one of the best and most wiling screeners on the day at the Expo, and with his size and ability to quickly roll or pop, got his teammates great looks at shots or got himself great looks off of passes from the guards. Klotz has a developing back to the basket game where if it becomes completely polished will round him out as one of the top Big 7 players entering the school year.
Sam Somerhalder Sam Somerhalder 6'7" | SF St. James Academy | 2022 State KS , 6’7 Forward/Post, St. James, 2022
Somerhalder was one of the more dominating players in the painted area all day at the Expo Saturday. His combination of length and athleticism is really tough to stop once he gets the ball in and around the key, and his skill level allows him to be efficient with those paint touches. Somerhalder played with great guards all day like Luke Williams Luke Williams 6'0" | PG Olathe South | 2021 State KS , Kernan Bundy, and Howard Johnson so he was used in 2 man actions a lot and he thrived playing out of them. He is a great short roller and hard roller to the rim with the hands and body control to make plays while diving to the bucket. He had a stand out move in his final game of the day where he caught the ball trailing at the elbow took one dribble right, spun back and finished with the left hand. Coaches were screaming all day to keep him out of the paint but that task was difficult for most on the day. He is another forward whos potential is off the charts and his motor, skill level, size, and athletic ability are going to make him a high level contributor for his high school and at the next level.
Kaleb Becker Kaleb Becker 6'4" | SF Abilene | 2022 State KS , 6’4 Forward, Abilene, 2022
Becker is a forward who I have had the opportunity to follow since he was in middle school and his game has come so far it has been wonderful to see. At first he was a raw talent with size and athleticism that allowed him to shine at the Middle School level, but this Saturday he showed just how refined his game is now. He was absolutely automatic shooting the ball from 15 to 17 feet as well as extended to the 3 point line. In the middle session of games he had a run of 4 straight jumpers, one from each baseline, an elbow jumper, and a three pointer. His strength, rebounding ability, and great defense walling up the guy he’s guarding has not changed and is still high caliber. Becker runs the floor really well as either a wing, rim runner, and even led the break with the ball in his hands on a couple of occasions.
Jack Rattigan, 6’6 Forward, Blue Valley West, 2022
The Blue Valley West Forward had himself a great day at the Prep 250 Expo here in Kansas, using his combination of height and quick strides to get to his spots to finish against other defenders. Rattigan was great all day moving without the ball forcing other bigs to have to guard him constantly on the move. He had a couple of great dives to the rim from baseline an sideline out of bounds that led him to get finishes at the basket. He has a quick first bounce which makes him tough to block with his 6’6 frame and is capable with both hands. Rattigan did a nice job on the glass throughout the day, helping his teammates out cleaning up misses with a couple of offensive put backs.