SUMMER RANKINGS: Kansas City Kansas League Top 5 Class of 2013

Here's an update to the Class of 2013 Kansas City Kansas League's rankings for the summer. 


1. Mike Carson, Harmon – Carson remains the number one player in this class. Carson has untapped potential and he's already receiving Division 1 attention. He should become a double-double machine in the next two years. He definitely has a shot at being all league first-team next year, assuming he gets the ball more like he should have this past season.

Harmon center Mike Carson remains on top

2. Deandre King, Washington – King is one of the big movers during the summer. King has been a reliable player for Kansas City Spurs AAU team and has played very well. He had a quick 15-point outburst during an AAU title game this season and his defense is there. King played tremendous defense in limited action last year, but did an effective job on Rozell Nunn last year when Kalen Allen was hurt. I overheard a few Division 1 coaches talk about King's game during that title game. He's a big guard and could reach 6'5" eventually in height. College scouts love those big guards and there's plenty to love about King's game.

3. Deon Tripp, Sumner Academy – I became a big fan of Tripp during his freshman season when I saw him dominate a very good Washington freshman team twice. Tripp's a tough south-paw guard who plays aggressive defense, has good size and he's developing a very good game on the offensive end. He provided Sumner a spark in their first Washington game, scoring 10 off the bench. He has great potential and has Division 1 written all over him. He's a long, athletic guard who will only get better the next two years.

4. Houston Shackelford, Schlagle – Shackelford put up some nice games last year in the Kaw Valley League during his time as a Bishop Ward Cyclone. But can he do it in the Kansas City Kansas – Atchison League, where the guards are significantly better? He has great ability and he'll add an offensive punch to the Stallions, who look to replace Rozell Nunn's incredible offensive production.

5. Jaamie Trevillion, Washington – Trevillion played significant time on the varsity team this year, adding valuable minutes in the postseason. His offensive stats were not there this season, but his defense and presence in the lineup were felt. His defense got Washington back into the state title game against McPherson before the Bullpups eventually pulled away. Trevillion, when subbing in for Jervon Hooks, kept the flow of Washington's offense going and even turned it up a notch at times. He will be a very good point guard for the Wildcats and with Dominique Wilson, Rakim McCoy and his fellow sophomores in the lineup next year, he will be one of the league leaders in assists. Trevillion played well on the big stage as a sophomore, meaning his transition into the starting lineup should be relatively smooth.

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Five predictions about the upcoming Big 12 season

With the new Big 12 on the horizon this upcoming college football season, this one should be an interesting one on and off the field.

Here are five predictions for the new Big 12 as college football season is around the corner.

1. Oklahoma's biggest challenge will come from an unlikely foe – Missouri at home on September 24.

Hear me out on this.

• Oklahoma has traditionally struggled against mobile quarterbacks. Brad Smith and the Tigers nearly upset Oklahoma as a freshman in Columbia and Smith had very little around him. James Franklin, though the new starter, has plenty around him – most importantly perhaps the best offensive line Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel has had. Franklin could give the Oklahoma defense some troubles.

• Missouri finally has the offensive line and defensive line to hold steady against OU. Missouri's returning offensive line includes four starters who have started collectively over 100 games. If the offensive line unit can remain healthy, they should provide Franklin good protection. Brad Madison, Jacquies Smith and Dominique Hamilton are three of the best 10 players Mizzou has – and they are all on the defensive line. With Sheldon Richardson in the mix, Missouri has a great shot.

• OU is no longer invincible to Missouri. The Tigers upset Oklahoma last year in Columbia, meaning that the "OU monkey" is off Pinkel's back. That first victory is always the toughest and OU is no longer the boogeyman for this program. Norman is definitely a different story, but this team won't be intimidated by them.

2. Texas A&M will be the Big 12's big flop

The Aggies are getting some love early from prognosticators around the college football land. I'm not there yet – this is a team that was slaughtered by Missouri in College Station and was downright embarrassed by LSU in the Cotton Bowl. The Aggies also had an ugly, controversial victory against Nebraska and barely beat the worst Texas team Mack Brown has had. Their 9-4 record last year was smoke and mirrors. The defense has major question marks in the secondary and Von Miller is no longer there. The Aggies do return a good defensive line, but I just don't see it.

3. The 2011 Kansas Jayhawks will be the worst Big 12 team in history

Again, not just picking on the rivals here. But look at these points:

• The Jayhawks had just 13 sacks as a unit last year – and they lose their best pass rusher Jake Laptad.

• Who's going to be the quarterback? This is probably a good question for many teams, but the question is up in the air at Lawrence. Will it be Jordan Webb? Brock Berglund? Who? Berglund is the most talented quarterback on the roster, but he's a big question mark off the field right now.

• Only six offensive starters return from a unit that averaged 17.1 points a game and 296 yards a game last year. Not stellar.

• The recruiting is getting better, but those guys won't make big impacts until down the road. Kansas head coach Turner Gill is doing a decent job recruiting wise, but you can't really rely on freshmen that much.

In other words, not much coming back and the schedule gets only tougher. They were 1-7 in the Big 12 last year, losing all of those games in double figures. A 1-11 record is not out of the realm of possibilities. It might be the most likely finish for KU this year. On paper, Iowa State's the only Big 12 team that could compare to the Jayhawks talent wise, but they are still in better shape.

4. While Bill Snyder is one of the greatest head coaches in college football history, it's tough to see five wins on the table for K-State.

Kansas State might be a better team this year than they were last year. The talent level – led most notably the Brown Brothers and Chris Harper – is improving.

Still, Kansas State has to replace three departing offensive lineman (Wade Weibert, Zach Kendall and Kenneth Mayfield) and a certain running back named Daniel Thomas.

Like Kansas, the quarterback situation is more confusing than the movie Inception. Ask 10 Kansas State fans about the quarterback situation and you will get a handful of different answers.

With Kansas State, the most important hurdle could be the schedule itself. They have to play Miami on the road and the new Big 12 schedule means they get everyone. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas aTm and Missouri are all certainly better than K-State on paper.

It's just tough to see a bowl birth in Kansas State's future this season.

5. The predicted finish of the Big 12 Conference this season:

1. Oklahoma
2. Oklahoma State
3. Missouri
4. Texas
5. Texas aTm
6. Baylor
7. Texas Tech
8. Kansas State
9. Iowa State
10. Kansas

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