VWBA Elite 17U

This team is undoubtedly in the Top 5 17s in the KC metro area in 2024, we’ll see at the end of July exactly how high. Keaton Wagler 2025 Shawnee Mission Northwest 6’6” combo guard is one of my favorite players in the Metro area. He is long and skilled and very versatile. An increase in muscle-mass will make him a quality Power 5 conference player for certain. When you play for VWBA and SMNW, you are undoubtedly ready for anything life can throw at you. So mental toughness should never be an issue for Keaton. I love when players play UP a level, and Reece Riedel 2026 Mill Valley 6’5” small forward seems to be a ‘left handed bucket’ waiting to happen. Scores at all three levels - at the rim, mid range really good, and deep at the trey line. Mikey Williams 2025 Highland Park 6’2” point guard is super quick with good passing skills and skilled to the rim. Jaret Sanchez 2025 Shawnee Heights 6’5” combo forward can really stroke it deep at the trey line in bunches. Ramello Smith 2025 Raytown 5’11” combo guard is REALLY skilled at getting to the rim and scoring the basketball. The newcomer to this group from a year ago is Vincent Moss 2025 KIPP Legacy 6’3” small forward. KIPP will probably be a factor very soon on down the road in Missouri HS boys basketball. Moss is helping to lay the foundation in 2025. Again, a VERY talented team. We’ll see how far they can go.

VWBA Elite 16U

The 17s are long and quick and athletic. The 16s are more skilled and savvy with just enough size to be very dangerous. Kevin Sullivan 2026 Rockhurst 6’6” forward is another of my favorite players in the area. His basketball IQ is off the charts. He scores down low in the post, shoots it deep with accuracy, and bangs it down in transition. Very solid player. His teammate Cohen Robinson 2026 Rockhurst 6’3” small forward is left handed with a nice mid range game. A good scorer. Jakobe Hicks 2026 Staley 6’1” shooting guard is a quick and athletic scorer to the rim with a nice basketball body for the game. Lucas Maciel 2026 Blue Springs 6’4” forward is smooth and fundamental, always under control, makes good decisions. Really solid. Hueston Sanders 2026 Free State 6’5” forward and Emmitt Peters 2026 St. James Academy 6’3” are really good complimentary pieces to the VWBA 16u puzzle for 2024. They can both score the basketball and make winning plays for their team. I like the depth and quality of character this group has so far this Spring. Skills + Savvy + Character = Dangerous.

VWBA Elite 15U

The 15s are a nice work in progress for Victor. Potential is there, they need a bit more size and maybe some knock down shooters. One of my favorite sleeper freshman this past 23-24 HS basketball season was Joey Lonergan 2027 Blue Valley 6’1 pure point guard. I use the word ‘pure’ because Joey’s skills and his mental mindset and intelligence suggest that he’s a winner and he will get the basketball to the open player every time down the court. That’s a ‘pure’ point guard! Love him. Teke Deng 2027 Olathe North 6’7” center is long and bouncy but hasn’t played much organized basketball yet. He’s what all coaches call a good project to have at 6’7”. Keller Daugherty 2027 Lee’s Summit 6’4” forward gives the 15s some size and skill, this season and down the road. This team is on the rise. Just missing some key pieces to the 15u puzzle for VWBA.