KCK Preps: Brisbane vs Jackson

It is Saturday night, the kids are sleeping and my wife is finishing up her notes for work. So of course I am watching film which seems silly since Oregon is playing Stanford but to each his own. KState provided me plenty of college football entertainment for the entire day. Well that and the constant gift that keeps on giving in the football program at previously discussed institution which will remain nameless in my blog posts.

After finishing Johnathan Jackson's highlight earlier I was looking at the great individual days Jordan Jackson and Joseph Dooley had against Gardner. Over the last few weeks of the season I couldn't put my finger on it why Jordan Jackson's number 10 and play reminded me so much of someone else. It was almost like deja vu. It wasn't until I watched Jordan's game against Washington that it slapped me across the face.

What I am about to do may generate some heat but what fun would this blog be if it didn't generate some chatter. This is a bit unfair to Jordan but he should take this as huge compliment.

Jordan Jackson vs Armand Brisbane

Brisbane was so much more than these throws. The play last year against Schlagle where Vaughn pulled in a 1 hander with 2 defenders on him was made possible by Brisbane's brilliance in the pocket.

So enjoy this tribute to one of the greatest QB I have seen play at the high school level and a young gun aspiring to be apart of that conversation.

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KCK Preps: Flashback 5 years

I was doing some digging in my mini film archive and found this one. In light of the new basketball season that is about to tip off I wanted to share this one. This class of athletes that Sumner produced is remarkable. Benny Parker and Vernon Vaughn are D1 prospects in their respective sports. Marcus Allen has solid talent in football and basketball. With that said however I don't think anyone that has followed these young men can say they are surprised by their success.

Take a look back at the 8th grade Sumner team featuring Parker, Vaughn, Allen and the twins who defeated Argentine 66 - 8.

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Highlights: Johnathan Jackson vs Gardner

Johnathan Jackson completed his senior season a few weeks ago against Gardner. His 220 yards and 3 TD's were not enough to beat Gardner but his performance should not be soon forgotten. At no point did any of the Bonner Springs Braves quit when it would have been easy to cash it in. I just finished Johnathan's highlights for the game and I hope all the underclassman took notes on how to fight until the bitter end.

In collecting highlights for Stevie Williams this past summer I could not help but notice 5 as I referred to him when asking Stevie's dad about him. I got his contact information and exchanged some emails with Johnathan's mom Dawn. What I have learned about this young man between then and now is that he has incredible character and is the unquestioned leader for that team.

Stevie was the lightning and Johnathan brought the thunder not with words but dominant production from the RB position. Absorb these numbers. 217 carries 1549 yards and 24 TDs, 21 receptions 203 yards and 2 TDs. Throw in a defensive score and he was in the end zone 27 times this season. 238 touches and he lost 1 fumble.

High school career stats 366 carries 2627 yards 35 TDs, 34 receptions 314 yards 3 TDs. 2 lost fumbles. I don't throw in the fumbles as an insult to his numbers but a compliment that he lost the ball twice in 400 touches. Sign me up if you are going to take care of the rock like this.

I liken Johnathan to the great Chiefs RB Priest Holmes. A patient runner who made 1 cut and go. Terrell Davis is another running back who made a living off letting things develop planting and going. Priest Holmes lost a fumble once every 132 touches. So Johnathan is definitely on track with how well he holds onto the ball.

I think all Bonner fans should stop and shake this young man's hand and just say thank you. He deserves a look at the next level. He made a trip to Pitt State last week and will be going to Washburn this weekend. I will try to get an interview with him this week to see how those visits went. I wish him the best of luck.

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Kansas State Basketball

I did not get to see the exhibition game so last night was my first look at the Kansas State basketball team. While it was an ugly 72 to 67 win against Charleston Southern you won't catch me panicing by their shooting struggles. Going a blue cold 2 for 16 from the 3 point line was enough to make me take pause but that is about it.

Jamar Samuels who has put on 25 to 30 pounds for his senior season did not play due to violation of team rules. When he returns we will feature a front line with Rodney "Shooter" McGruder, Jordan Henriquez-Roberts and Jamar Samuels. Throw in Thomas Gipson who looks to be a beast down low and we have a very solid front line.

Anyone watching K-State basektball the last few years knows that Frank Martin loves point guards. Angel Rodriguez is going to be special. With Will Spradling back our back court looks very good. Irving and Southwell to boot.

K-State held a clinic at brick laying at the free throw line last year and it worked out fine as the season went on. Frank Martin is a solid basketball coach and will definitely stay the course and wake the boys up after a bit of a scare in Manhattan last night.

NOTE: I am going to put this out there right now so it is documented. Feel free to laugh at me later or now if you see fit. Jordan Henriquez-Roberts first team all Big 12. He is going to be a force in the middle.

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Why Nick Rodriguez was my choice for the kicker position

I received some heat tonight from a few Piper Pirates fans about why I selected Turner Golden Bears linebacker/kicker/wide receiver/offensive lineman/punter (seriously - he played those five positions) Nick Rodriguez as my kicker on my personal Wyandotte County Dream Team.

Of course, the Pirates fans wanted Parker Miller to receive the nod over Rodriguez.

Miller had a nice season for the Pirates. He made 31 extra point attempts, ran in a two-point conversion and made two field goals this season.

This is not to dismiss what he did, but whenever something I post gets negative feedback, I want to defend my point as best as I can.

And hey, it's my (and David Brox's) Website, so here's my side. 

Here's my case for Nick-Rod as my kicker.

- While he did not have as many extra points as Miller did this season, I would argue that Piper's offense was better, thus giving him more opportunities. You cannot blame that on Rodriguez or hold it against him. Nick-Rod himself made some extra points himself. He also made a couple field goals this season.

- Turner also played a significantly tougher schedule than Piper did. Turner played Blue Valley and Bishop Miege, two of the best five teams on the Kansas side this year. To say how good they are, both teams beat the Gardner team that put up 76 points on Bonner Springs by five touchdowns. Piper's toughest game was probably against Blue Valley Southwest. Had Turner featured Sumner Academy, Hiawatha and Atchison in their district instead of Mill Valley, Harmon and Bishop Miege, I imagine Rodriguez would have had 10 to 12 more extra points.

- Rodriguez was a little better on kickoffs. He had six touchbacks on kickoffs this year, an underrated stat considering that good kickers in this area are rare. He had multiple kickoffs that went 60 yards this year. As good of a kicker he was for Piper, Miller had no touchbacks according to his MaxPreps stat page and his kickoff long was 50 yards this season. Field position is so underrated and when you can stick an opponent on their 20-yard-line to start a drive, that can be such an advantage for a good defense. Rodriguez simply did a better job putting his defense in better positions on the kickoff more consistently.

This is not to run down the season Miller had. He had a good season and he was my second choice.

It's to reinforce my reasoning why Rodriguez was my choice.

While the above won't win over one certain fan, I would hope everyone else can at least see my side. 

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ADVICE TO THE ATHLETES: Junior colleges not the end of a career

For an athlete, it must be fun imagining being recruited by colleges like Duke, North Carolina or Kentucky in basketball or by football schools like Alabama, LSU or Florida.

I cannot imagine the feeling of having multiple Division 1 programs bang on my door.

Still, let’s keep it real – it’s very rare for that to happen, even for the great players in Kansas City, Kan.

Athletes in Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., have always been disrespected compared to those in Johnson County and on the Missouri side. KCK is simply overlooked by Division 1 schools.

Also, I don’t think KCK has the ambassadors it needs metro-wide to generate attention for the athletes. It’s not necessarily the adults fault directly, but I do believe there are some coaches who just look out for their guys rather than the state of the city.

Third, many of the KCK kids who have size often find their way to prep schools or the suburbs. That was a common complaint of some of the best coaches who were around here five or six years ago. 

Because of those three factors, the most likely route an athlete has in KCK is the two-year college first and then by some luck and good performance, a possible opportunity at a Division 1 program.

Instead of fearing that opportunity and feeling disrespected, athletes should welcome it and be honored to play at a Kansas JUCO. 

Why?

I'm glad you asked!

1. Kansas has some of the best junior colleges in both basketball and football. Getting into junior colleges in Kansas is tough enough and a great accomplishment. Some athletes in KCK have ended up in Butler Community College, a powerhouse football program. Coffeyville and Hutchinson in basketball are often loaded. There are a handful of great junior college programs in Kansas. Heck, even Kansas City Kansas Community College is starting to make strides. KCKCC had its greatest basketball season ever last year on the men's side. 

2. It means your career is not over. Is Division 1 ideal? You bet. But having that option of playing at the next level should be considered an honor. It's an opportunity to prove yourself and if you prove yourself at the JUCO level, odds are you'll get discovered, especially in football. 

3. Great success stories. Aaron Rodgers, the best quarterback in the NFL right now, attended junior college one year. Nick Fairley, the big defense lineman from Auburn last year, spent two years at a junior college. Overall since 2006, about 100 players who attended community colleges in their past have been drafted in the NFL. Cameron Newton, who's having a tremendous rookie season for the Carolina Panthers, attended JUCO as well. Baseball fans - have you heard of Albert Pujols? Well, he played at a community college too.

Of course, I'm not arguing a junior college is better than a Division 1 program, though in some cases, KCK athletes have chosen to play for a great junior college rather than a lousy Division 1 program. 

Eli Alexander chose Coffeyville over a smaller Division 1 school in Missouri, for example. Tra'Vaughn White opted for Independence Community College rather than Sam Houston State. 

However, receiving a junior college scholarship is not the end of the world. It's not instant death to your career. 

It's another door opening and if you take advantage of it, another could open.

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Lady Sabres “Big 3” from last year already making an impact at the next level

The special senior class of Sumner Academy Lady Sabres basketball players from last year’s team are already making their names known at the junior college level.

Sumner Academy Lady Sabres head coach Torrence Allen said he would have plenty of teams to root for after Kathleen Brisbane, Shanice Palmer and Alexandria Blaurock signed with three different colleges.

So far, so good.

Here’s how each of them are doing so far as freshmen.

Kathleen Brisbane, Johnson County Community College: In action off the bench for the 4-0 Johnson County team, Brisbane is averaging just over 4 points and 5 rebounds a game. She generally sees about 20 to 24 minutes a night, so that’s a very respectable production line from her. She came close to hitting the 1,000 point mark in her high school career.

Alexandria Blaurock, Kansas City Kansas Community College: For our local Blue Devils team, Blaurock is off to a nice start. In three games so far, she’s averaging 5.7 points a game and 3.7 rebounds each night. Again, for a freshman guard, those numbers are very nice. She’s cracked the starting lineup with the Blue Devils. With Brisbane and Sameia Kendall leading the way for Sumner last season, Blaurock really snuck up on the local scene and she’s produced so far.

Shanice Palmer, Neosho County Community College: I don’t have specific stats for Shanice yet, but Coach Allen told me she had a good chance of starting. 

This group of three seniors was special for Sumner Academy.

They won three league titles and became the first Kansas City Kansas - Atchison League girls basketball team to go 10-0 in league play. 

They lost a very close game in the sub-state final to Basehor-Linwood.

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