KBCA All Star Game Coverage: Gold Team
The annual Kansas Basketball Coaches Association all star game at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina on Saturday gave a bunch of Kansas seniors one more chance to show their stuff. Some of the players who competed are headed to play…
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Continue ReadingThe annual Kansas Basketball Coaches Association all star game at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina on Saturday gave a bunch of Kansas seniors one more chance to show their stuff.
Some of the players who competed are headed to play at the collegiate level. One – Elijah Brooks from Topeka West – will play Division 1. But a number of them are hanging up their gear. So it was particularly meaningful for some of those participants to us their gifts and compete one more time.
The Gold squad fell 95-89 Saturday night. But the game was competitive and relatively well played. The players appeared to be enjoying themselves.
Dreylin Kemp from Wichita Heights used his athleticism and unique skill set to lead the Gold team with 18 points. Kemp cleaned up several misses in transition, and also was able to get to the rim with the defenses spread out to cover all the shooters. There were several quality players with Kemp’s size in the game, but none with his combination of power, quickness and ability to run and slash to the goal. Perhaps most impressive, Kemp blocked 5 shots when no one else in the game got more than 2.
Seaman’s Ty Henry was his usual efficient self, hitting 6-7 shots from the field for 13 points. Henry can shoot from distance, put the ball on the floor to drive the length of the court, and can also produce by catching the ball in the midrange and hitting jumpers. Henry quietly grabbed 7 boards, which tied for a game high.
Kyle Grill from Maize dominated the game early, and he did it in the paint, rather than lighting up from outside like he often does. Grill tallied 13 to tie Henry. Grill is a super-skilled wing man who can handle the ball, slash to catch and shoot, penetrate on the bounce and slither to open shots. He did not hit a single 3-pointer in the game, but he was without question one of the best shooters in the gym.
Tallying 10 points for the Gold was Royal Valley’s Nahcs Wahwassuck. He knocked down a couple of 3-pointers and demonstrated his versatility by grabbing 6 rebounds and leading the break with his creative passing and good handle. Wahwassuck is a point guard in a small forward’s body, so he can do just about everything.
Wichita Heights’ Chase Harris and McPherson’s Seth Madron both showed off a lot of athleticism. Harris really worked hard at on-ball defense, which isn’t something you always see in an all star setting. Madron, meanwhile, didn’t hog the ball or try to show off. He just grabbed 6 rebounds and played within a team framework.