Craig Wind has written for Rivals.com along with his own recruiting service . Wind weighs in on 810 Varsity events and Kansas City metro area players through the year.

Nick Anderson, Olathe South HS
6’4” class of 2025 (Rick Taylor Shootout)
He was so long and slender two seasons ago when I coached against him the first time. But streaky good shooting it deep and very talented. He found the weight room at OS and he looks just tremendous physically. Really looks the part. Great wing span. Plays like a 6’8” guy, so he’ll be able to play the 2-3-4 spots with ease as a senior next year. Really like.

Jaxon Davis, Sumner HS
6’4” class of 2026 (Rick Taylor Shootout)
Knew absolutely nothing about him and saw him at the Rick Taylor Classic at BV HS. 24 points in a varsity game with his length and he shot it really well with some range with get your attention quickly. He’ll be interesting to watch for the next two years.

Will Davis, Blue Valley North HS
6’7” class of 2027 (Championship Showdown)
His dad played at Oklahoma (Will Davis, Sr.) and he’s already got an AAU HOF career playing for Allen Skeens with Power Group. He ‘s left handed and a really good passer for a young guy. Good mid range scorer, he needs to work on scoring it better with some range. But he’ll end up 6’10” and a Power 5 4-man with great bounce and good skills overall.

Micah Deaver, Olathe East HS
6’2” class of 2024 (vs Blue Valley West)
So this wasn’t a tournament deal like most of the others. But when you score 49 in a one OT loss affair on 15 for 23 with 9 treys, you deserve to be in this article. East lost by six in OT. Mikes was SENSATIONAL on Friday night. It was almost an unselfish 49, he could have shot it another 10 times and shot for 59. A few more like this one and it’ll be an “only D1s need to apply” for Deaver (as it probably should be).

Jake Fritz, Blue Valley Northwest
HS 6’4” class of 2024 (Championship Showdown)
This one is my early favorite for the Most Improved player in the state of Kansas for the season. When he started four years ago, he was intelligent and fundamental and unassuming. Now, he beats everybody down the floor and dunks it like Rex Chapman used to in his Kentucky-days. It’s only 2023 when combo guards on playing above the rim.

Mavrick Hawkins, Pembroke Hill HS
6’2” class of 2026 (Championship Showdown)
A coach’s son and a really skilled combo guard with nice length and the ability to score the rock and be a playmaker. Pretty good athlete with upside to grow more. When his team is playing higher level competition, bigger schools, his squad is too young and he doesn’t have enough help. Dad-head coach Jeff is a difference-maker over the long haul of the season.

Abdoulaye Kante, Shawnee Mission East HS
6’8” class of 2024 (Championship Showdown)
He was a soccer player coming from Africa and his offensive skills continue to improve and demonstrate just how far he’s still behind. On the other hand, his defensive skills will be high enough to help the Lancers win several games down the stretch in the Sunflower in 2024. He’s super long and bouncy with still lots of upside.

Zakston King, Lawrence HS
6’3” class of 2024 (Rick Taylor Shootout)
So it’s a new regime at Lawrence and I don’t want say he’s beside himself on the floor but the other teams are keying on him and being very physical with him because he doesn’t have much Sunflower-help around him. D1 coaches around the Midwest will still be interested in ZK, I don’t know if what his numbers are going to look like in March, but it’s going to be tough.

Eli Lovich, Blue Valley West HS
6’5” class of 2024 (at Olathe East)
When Olathe East played West last year at McPherson in the mid-winter January tourney, stopping Eli was the key to winning the game. He’s left handed and plays above the rim and strokes it very well with range. Very disappointed that, unfortunately, he broke his wrist vs. Olathe East on Friday. He’ll be playing centerfield for the Arkansas Razorbacks next fall.

Parker Seithel, Blue Valley HS
6’9” class of 2026 (Rick Taylor Shootout)
Transferred from Rockhurst and then he hit a growth spurt and ends up 6’9” for his sophomore season. He’s supremely long and very skilled, shoots it well deep and can bounce up there pretty easily to throw it down. He needs the weight room something fierce. But his work ethic and gym rat is off the charts. He’s got a chance!