The 810 Varsity Preseason Teams have been selected for the upcoming basketball season!
And of course, if someone was missed, feel free to submit anyone overlooked!
Mitchell Ballock, Eudora (Photo: Eudora Basketball)
Guard, 6-foot-5, Senior
One of, if not the top player in the Kansas City area. If it seems that "he's still in high school?" , that's because Ballock helped lead Eudora to the Kansas Class 4A II title in 2014. Last year, Ballock was injured for most of the year, but returned and looks to be at full health. After his sophomore campaign, Ballock won the top shooting award at the Steph Curry camp, and received offers from Oklahoma, Iowa State and Kansas before committing to Creighton last year.
Jacob Gilyard, Barstow (Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity)
Guard, 5-foot-9, Senior
Another eternal Kansas City high school star, Gilyard has pretty much accomplished everything that one can hope before his senior year. A Missouri Class 3 state title in 2015, followed by a runner-up in an epic championship game in 2016. The point guard already has committed to Richmond, and a year after over 16 points and six assists a game, should be averaging in the mid-20's as the main threat on the Knights.
Forward, 6-foot-8, Senior
Childs averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds a year ago, en route to an all-state selection. A versatile offensive player as well as rebounder and shot blocker, Childs has already committed to Bradley.
Darien Jackson, BV Northwest (Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity)
Combo guard, 6-foot-3, Senior
Jackson averaged 18 points and four assists to help lead Blue Valley Northwest to a fourth-place finish in Kansas Class 6A. Jackson has received numerous Division I offers, including Kansas State.
"Darien is an extremely athletic guard that has shored up his jump shot," BV Northwest assistant Zach Harsch said. "He can create off the dribble and is our best passer."
Forward, 6-foot-8, Sophomore
Robinson earned Kansas freshman of the year in 2015-16, and already has received Division I offers left and right before his sophomore campaign, including Kansas, Oklahoma, Wake Forest and many others, along with interest from North Carolina and Kentucky. With Bol Bol's departure, Robinson should flourish even more in the frontcourt.
Guard, 6-foot-5, Senior
Bennett averaged 15 points, five rebounds and over two steals in helping the Irish to a 28-4 record and Missouri Class 4 runner-up. The Lehigh commit will team with Diego Benard (13 ppg, 4 reb, 4 ast) as a lethal backcourt and can be seen at the Best of the Midwest Showcase, Session I vs Bishop Miege.
Guard, 6-foot-2, Senior
Geiman averaged nearly 19 ppg and 5 assists, and earned second-team all-Kansas Class 6A as a result. Geiman and the Tigers look to top their 14-7 year in 2016, the first Blue Valley winning mark in 26 years.
"Tyler does a little bit of everything," said BV head coach Dwight Williams. "He takes pride in his defense and gets his teammates involved and has high basketball IQ."
Mario Goodrich, Lee's Summit West (Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity)
Guard, 6-foot-2, Junior
Goodrich enters his third year as a starter after averaging 15 ppg as a sophomore. He already holds five Division I basketball and three Division I football offers.
Guard, 6-foot-2, Senior
Smith already has committed to UMKC, and posted stellar numbers as a junior: 16.2 ppg, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and over 2 steals per game.
Zach Thornhill, St. James Academy (Photo: Darryl Woods, 810 Varsity)
Guard, 6-foot-4, Senior
Thornhill averaged a whopping 21 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 51% from the floor, 40% from three and 83% from the line as a junior. The Nebraska-Omaha commit figures to be one of the top players in the area.
Guard, 6-foot-3, Senior
Hood finished just a point shy of Michael Weathers for the top scorer in the Sunflower League, with a 21 ppg average along with four rebounds. Hood figures to earn all-Sunflower and all-state honors again, as he did as a junior.
Yor Anei, Shawnee Mission South
Forward, 6-foot-9, Junior
With a few Division I offers already, inlcuding UAB, Anei has vast potential ahead as just a junior. Anei finished with 10 ppg , 6.5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 68% from the floor as a sophomore.
Christian Bishop, Lee's Summit West
Forward, 6-foot-7, Junior
Bishop gives the Titans a versatile wing with big upside. Already holds offers from Mizzou and Tulsa.
Jaiden Bristol, St. Joe Central
Guard, 6-foot-0, Senior
Bristol averaged 15.5 ppg as a junior along with 4.6 rebounds and nearly two steals. Bristol's buzzer-beater against Hogan Prep gave the Indians a 76-74 win
Colby Bullock, Blue Valley North
Guard, 6-foot-0, Senior
Bullock averaged 15 points and 3 assists while being named first-team all-EKL and honorable mention all state in 2015-16.
Damien Daniels, Hogan Prep
Guard, 5-foot-8, Junior
Daniels averaged 13 points and 4.5 assists as a sophomore, and helps make Hogan Prep the area Class 3 favorite from Kansas City. "Damien has worked tremendously hard in improving certain areas of his game," Hogan Prep head coach Rob Heitman said. "He has a unique blend of explosiveness, leadership, and play-making ability."
Steve Dudley, Lincoln Prep
Guard, 6-foot-2, Junior
Under the radar entering his junior year, Dulley won't be for long after more efforts like his 40-point barrage vs. St. Thomas Aquinas earlier this year.
Mason Fair, Raytown
Forward, 6-foot-5, Junior
Fair tossed in 11 ppg and nearly 60 percent from the floor as a sophomore.
Keenan Fitzmorris, St. James Academy
Forward, 6-foot-11, Junior
The big man has strong Division I offers already from Stanford, Wichita State and others. He posted 9.4 ppg and 2.5 blocks as just a sophomore
Tyree King, Blue Springs
Guard, 6-foot-1, Senior
King averaged over 14 points per game, with 4 rebounds and nearly two steals in helping the Wildcats to winning marks the past two years.
Jordan Lathon, Grandview
Guard, 6-foot-4, Junior
Lathon already has many Division I offers before his junior season, including Butler, Colorado and others. He figures to take the next step up from over 7 ppg, 3 reb and 3 assists as just a sophomore.
Jalen Lewis
Guard, 5-foot-10, Junior
Lewis leads Liberty after shooting at 44 percent from three-point range en route to over 16 ppg as a junior. Lewis scored 19 points in the thrilling win over Shawnee Mission North in the 810 Varsity Tipoff Classic finale.
Isaac McCullough, Ottawa
Guard, 6-foot-4, Senior
As a junior, McCullough netted 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.5 steals while being named all-state for a second year. He opened the 2016 year with 29 points against Piper.
Jamichael Morgan, Blue Valley Northwest
Guard, 6-foot-4, Senior
A high flier with elite athleticism, Morgan averaged 10 ppg but serves as the Huskies lockdown defender. Morgan is committed to Oral Roberts.
Joe Pleasant - Blue Valley Northwest
Junior, 6-foot-6, Forward
Pleasant averaged 20 ppg in the Kansas Class 6A tournament, and will be a major cog for the Huskies. Pleasant already has Division I offers, including Oral Roberts.
Semaj Ray, Bishop Miege
Guard, 6-foot-3, Senior
The four-year starter averaged 13 points and was named first-team all-EKL and all-state as a junior. With Division I looks, Ray should improve on the numbers as a senior.
Lamel Robinson, Park Hill South
Guard, 5-foot-10, Sophomore
As a freshman, Robinson averaged 13.5 points and over three rebounds and two steals. Already drawing Division I interest as a soph, the lightning quick Robinson opened with 26 points in the 810 Varsity Tipoff Classic vs Lee's Summit.
Nic Slavin - Olathe South
Senior, 6-foot-2, Guard
Slavin can score with the best of them and looks for a big season before going to on to MidAmerica Nazarene next year.
Dru Smith, Park Hill
Guard, 6-foot-2, Senior
A long and athletic guard who excels in transition, Smith figures to boost his 12 ppg average as a junior.
Roman Wilson, Park Hill
Forward, 6-foot-8, Sophomore
Vast potential ahead with offers from K-State and Wichita State, and could be a major centerpiece for the Trojans ahead.
Other 810 Elite
Clayton Adams, Liberty
Senior, 6-foot-5, Forward
Angelo Allegri, St. Thomas Aquinas
Senior, 6-foot-6, Forward
Matt Austin, St. Joe Central
Senior, 6-foot-0, Guard
Franceso Badocchi, Bishop Miege
Senior, 6-foot-7, Forward
Diego Benard, Lafayette
Junior, 5-foot-11, Guard
Danny Bradley, Shawnee Mission North
Senior, 6-foot-1, Guard
Somaj Brewer, Lee's Summit
Junior, 6-foot-2, Guard
Mike Chalupa - Blue Valley West
Senior, 5-foot-9, Guard
Dom Fragola - Liberty North
Senior, 5-foot-11, Guard
Cameron Hairston, Lee's Summit North
Senior, 6-foot-4, Forward
Ben Hagenkord - St. Thomas Aquinas
Senior, 6-foot-1, Guard
Cooper Kaifes - Mill Valley
Junior, 6-foot-3, Guard
Jacob Kline - Park Hill South
Senior, 5-foot-10, Guard
Curtis Lewis, Pembroke Hill
Senior, 6-foot-0, Guard
Tanner Maola, Paola
Senior, 6-foot-6, Forward
Will McKee- St. James Academy
Senior, 6-foot-6, Forward
Saadique Perkins - Park Hill South
Junior, 6-foot-3, Guard
Xavier Rhodes - Rockhurst
Junior, 6-foot-0, Guard
Chris Teahan - Rockhurst
Senior, 6-foot-5, Guard
Matthew Vanderslice - Olathe Northwest
Forward, 6-foot-8, Senior
Luke Waters - Olathe Northwest
Junior, Guard
AJ Webster - SM South
Senior, 6-foot-8, Forward
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