Week 2: Five games to Watch
Week 2: Five games to Watch
While high school basketball officially gets underway in Kansas on Thursday, things will really heat up next week as action across the state will be in full swing.
Here, we take a look at some of the top match-ups across the state in Week 2 of the high school hoops season.
Tuesday (Dec. 5, 2017)
Grandview vs. Highland Park
Date: 7 p.m. on Tuesday (Dec. 5)
Location: at Highland Park Topeka, Kan.
Lets get it on. This should be a terrific contest matching two equal teams with similar styles of play in a raucous environment at Highland Park, a venue that often proves challenging for opponents to visit. Grandview figures to be a contender in Class 4 basketball in Kansas City, Mo. with several talented players returning, while Highland Park is a favorite on the Kansas side to have a breakthrough type season.
Players to Watch
Grandview: Mason Taylor (6’3, G, 2018), Kamto Eze (6’8, F, 2019), Deandre Sorrell (5’10, G, 2019)
Highland Park: Will White (6’3, F, 2018), Larry White (6’5, F, 2018), Davonshai Harden (6’5, F, 2020), Dasani Giardina (5’10, G, 2018).
Turner vs Schlagle
Date: 7 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 5)
Location: Schlagle High School, Kansas City, Kan.
This contest features a Schlagle team who represented Kasnas City, Kan. at the Kansas 5A state championships in Topaka, Kan. in fine fashion last year, competing against an up-and-coming Turner team that finished a game above .500 last season and is on the upswing with some talented young players, including 2020 G/F Jaylin Richardson, among others.
Players to Watch
Turner: Jaylin Richardson (6’3, G/F, 2020).
Schlagle: Ronnell Mitchell (5’7, PG, 2018), Tyon Grant (6’5, SF, 2018), D’Monte Gaw (6’3, G, 2019)
Derby vs. McPherson
Date; 7 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 5)
Location: McPherson, Kan.
This contest will match one of the best teams in Kansas 4A I in McPherson against a Class 6A contender in Derby as well as several of the state’s most talented individual performers, including 2018 point guard Mason Alexander, 2019 shooting guard Jake Alexander and NCAA Division I signee Ben Pyle, all for McPherson, and Derby recent additions Tyler Brown and Bryany Mocaby and Jared Mocaby. This is likely a game several college scouts will attend as only Bryant Mocaby and Pyle are committed.
Players to Watch
Derby: Tyler Brown (6’1, SG, 2018), Jared Mocaby (5’11, PG, 2019), Bryant Mocaby (6’5, F/G, 2018).
McPherson: Ben Pyle (6’6, F, 2018), Mason Alexander (5’11, PG, 2018), Jake Alexander (6’4, G, 2019).
Schlagle vs. Aquinas
Date: 7 p.m. Friday (Dec. 8)
Location: Schlagle High School, Kansas City, Kan.
This will be an interesting contest featuring a Schlagle team who returns nearly all of the talent froma. squad that represented Kasnas City, Kan. at the Kansas 5A state championships in Topaka, Kan. against an Aquinas program that is in transition mode after suffering big losses to graduation. A big key for Aquinas will be how quickly a new-look team adjusts to the varsity or new roles on varsity.
Players to Watch
Schlagle: Ronnell Mitchell (5’7, PG, 2018), Tyon Grant (6’5, SF, 2018), D’Monte Gaw (6’3, G, 2019)
Aquinas: Kenny Gavin (6’4, G/F, 2018), Joe Rost (6’6, F, 2019)