skip navigation

KC's Greatest Bracket: Watson Region

By Chad Rader, 810 Varsity, 12/26/20, 8:15PM CST

Share

Pick who the top player in the last 10 years, in 810 Varsity's bracket

Vote for the greatest player in Kansas City the last 10 years (2011-20), as listed and seeded by 810 Varsity.

Criteria was based on:
- All-State and regional, national accolades
- State final and tourney success
- Collegiate and professional success

Four 16-player regions make up the bracket. Cast your vote - rounds are now one day each.

Watson Region

Watson averaged 23.4 ppg, 8.3 assists and 14 rebounds in his final year at Washington. Watson then started at UCLA, earning all Pac-10 honors. Watson played 13 seasons in the NBA (2001-2014) as well as serving as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns (2015-18).

Second Round Results


All Candidates, 1R Voting

Christian Braun, BV Northwest

- 2019 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, DiRenna Award winner
- Averaged 28 ppg, 9.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists as senior
- Helped lead Huskies to three-peat of Class 6A state title (2017-2019)
- Starts for Kansas Jayhawks as a sophomore

KU Jayhawks pledge Christian Braun starring for BV Northwest | The Kansas  City Star
Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Caleb Bennett, St. Joe Lafayette

- 3x Missouri Class 4 all-state selection
- Helped lead Irish to state semis twice - state title game (2016)
- Played at Lehigh, currently at Missouri Western


Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Jordan Lathon, Grandview

- DiRenna Award finalist (2018)
- Helped lead Bulldogs to 2018 Class 4 state title with 28-3 mark
- 6-foot-4 point guard plays currently at UTEP.


Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Tra'Vaughn White, Washington

- DiRenna Award finalist (2011)
- Averaged 23.3 ppg as senior, helping Wildcats to 22-3 record and Class 5A title game
- Washington all-time scoring leader, surpassing Earl Watson's mark
- Played at Duquesne and Longwood
Kansas City Kansan: Former Washington Wildcats basketball star wins junior  college scoring title

Benny Parker, Sumner

- DiRenna Award winner (2012) posting 25 ppg, 6 assists, 4 steals
- 2x first-team all Kansas Class 4A selection
- Led Sumner to consecutive Class 4A state titles
- Played at Nebraska
Benny Parker - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site

Yor Anei, Lee's Summit West

- Missouri Class 5 all-state selection (2018)
- Led Big 12 in blocks as freshman at Oklahoma State
- Currently playing at SMU

La'mel Robinson, Park Hill South

- 3x Missouri Class 5 all-state selection
- All-time Park Hill South scorer and assist leader
- Averaged 25 ppg as senior, 23.8 ppg as junior, 21.3 as soph
- Currently plays at University of Omaha


Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Ronnie Bell, Park Hill

- Missouri Class 5 all-state selection
- Originally a Missouri State basketball commit before winning Simone Award, and landing Division I football offers
- Led Michigan in receiving years in 2020


Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Christian Bishop, LS West

- 2x Missouri Class 5 all-state first team
- Averaged 15.5 points, 10 rebounds as senior
- Currently in junior campaign at Creighton


Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Mason Taylor, Grandview

- Helped Grandview to first state title (2018)
- Averaged 17 ppg as senior
- Playing currently at Air Force

Mason Taylor - Men's Basketball - Air Force Academy Athletics

Blake Spellman, Lee's Summit

- DiRenna Award winner (2016)
- Helped lead Lee's Summit to final four with 19.5 ppg and 4 assists
- Logged time at Northern Kentucky and Central Missouri


Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Tyler Geiman, Blue Valley

- DiRenna Award finalist (2017)
- 22 ppg, 8 assist, 5 rebounds as senior to earn first-team Kansas Class 6A selection
- First-team MIAA selection as a junior at Washburn (2020)

Blue Valley boys basketball standout Tyler Geiman named Hy-Vee 41 Five-Star  Athlete of the Week

Damien Daniels, Hogan Prep

- 2x Missouri Class 3 first-team all-state selection (2017, 2018)
- Averaged 18 ppg in career at Hogan Prep, including 23 ppg as junior, 21.8 ppg as senior
- Helped lead Rams to Missouri Class 3 title in 2018
- Currently plays at Abilene Christian

810 Varsity on Twitter: "Hogan Prep junior Damien Daniels @Dt1me goes for  28 points, 6 rebounds in Hogan Prep's 61-56 win over Basehor-Linwood  @hoganprepkc… https://t.co/4vLGPvTYLr"
Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Cooper Kaifes, Mill Valley

- 2x Kansas Class 5A all-state selection
- Averaged 19.4 ppg as senior, and 21.0 ppg as junior
- Helped Jags to 2016 Kansas Class 5A state title
- Currently playing for Loyola (Chicago)

Shawnee Dispatch | Mill Valley Cooper Kaifes, De Soto's Jared Baruth play  in Kansas Barnstormers game

Jacob Gilyard, Barstow

- 3x Missouri Class 3 all-state first team
- 2017 Missouri Class 3 Player of Year
- DiRenna Award winner (2017) after averaged 33 ppg and 7 assists
- Helped Knights to 3 state championship games, including the 2015 Class 3 title
- Currently starting at point guard for Richmond


Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Stevie Strong, University Academy

- 2x Missouri Class 3 all-state first team selection (2019, 2020)
- Missouri Class 3 Player of the Year (2020)
- Averaged nearly 34 ppg as junior for Gryphons


Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity

Headline News

Kansas News

  • Shaw Picks Mizzou

  • By Chad Rader, 810 Varsity 09/17/2021, 11:00am CDT
  • Top 50 recruit in 2022 opts to stay home, relationships
  • Read More

Missouri News