KS Top 250 Expo: Top 2021 Small Forwards

<p>The Kansas Top 250 Expo, a one-day gathering of some of the best players in the region, was a stage for the top senior small forwards in Kansas to perform.</p> <p>Here were the top senior small forwards at the showcase (listed in alphabetical order):</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889454" first="Jack" last="Chapman"], Blue Valley Northwest:</strong></p> <p>Chapman sort of defies a position category, but whatever you consider him, he’s one of the best. He might have been the most dominant player at the Expo. He shoots from deep and handles the ball full court like guard, runs the floor like a small forward, yet he has the 6-foot-7 frame and shot-blocking ability to be a power forward. Regardless, Chapman was a one-man wrecking crew at the Expo. The style of play encouraged big men to pull down rebounds and push the ball up the floor on the dribble, which fit Chapman to a T. It was impossible to count the number of three-pointers and dunks Chapman poured in during the one-day jamboree.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="730642" first="Tanner" last="Hecht"], Wamego:</strong></p> <p>There were tons of great wings in KC, but Hecht was arguably the best. He was able to get his three-point shot off at will, and he was on fire. He is a deadly catch-and-shoot wing, but he can create his own opportunities off the dribble. At 6-foot-5 he can get his shot off over a defender, and he’s quick and athletic enough to evade even smaller opponents. He’s a good leaper and versatile, but his shot makes him elite.</p> <p><strong>Taye Lawrie, Wichita North:</strong></p> <p>Lawrie was sneaky good at Kansas City. He doesn’t command the ball or require a lot of touches. But he makes a lot of plays and quietly produces a ton for his team. At 6-foot-3 he isn’t a towering presence in the lane, but he moves through traffic and collects rebounds and second-chance opportunities. He runs the floor and follows up every miss. He has a great mid-range, face-to-the-basket game. He showed he could connect from deep as well. But he lets the offense come to him, moves without the ball, and has a knack for scoring without being the focal point of the offense.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889462" first="Alex" last="Littlejohn"], Carroll:</strong></p> <p>Littlejohn showed once again why he’s one of the best forwards in the state. His versatility is elite. With his 6-foot-5 frame, he works the boards and is disruptive in the lane on defense. He can score in the lane and in midrange. But Littlejohn excels at two things: pushing the game in the open floor, and shooting from deep. In the freelancing style of the Expo, he routinely collected rebounds and led the break himself, thoroughly wrecking defenses along the way.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889472" first="Preston" last="Reynolds"], Shawnee Mission East:</strong></p> <p>The 6-foot-4 Reynolds is a workhorse. He’s tough and willing to battle in the lane. He made several steals and interceptions at the Expo, showing he is heady and values defense, even in a showcase setting. He can handle the ball and keeps his head up to pass the ball up the court. He has a versatile offensive game and he uses his physicality to get in the lane to pass or score.</p>