The seven most underrated boys basketball players in the KCKAL

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

Yesterday, I gave you the seven most underrated basketball players in the Kaw Valley League, according to myself.

Tonight, you get the seven most underrated boys players in the Kansas City Kansas -Atchison League.

Again, in no order.

1. Kameron Allen, Washington - Allen is quietly putting together a good season for the Wildcats. Allen's averaging just over 7 points and 2 rebounds a game. Allen hustles on the court and gives Washington a good option outside. Deandre King may be the big scorer in that junior class, but Washington wouldn't be one game out of the league without Kameron.

2. Kindred Williams, Washington - Williams has started a few games due to the injury of James Jappa, but Williams is another underrated Wildcats junior. Williams averages 4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal a game. That's pretty good for coming off the bench most of the time. Williams reminds me a little bit of Rakim McCoy with his athleticism. I think he's in store for a very good senior year when the minutes, I assume, would pick up.

3. Jameon Cal, Schlagle - Cal's had a very nice under the radar season for the struggling Stallions this year. Cal has played a lot of the season out of position and his stat-line is usually pretty good. He often draws the toughest assignments on defense, which include Dominique Wilson at Washington. Schlagle's underachieved big time this season, but Cal has been one of the true great over-achievers. He's getting a lot of love from people that matter in the community, so I thought KCK Preps should join the bandwagon.

4. Alex Garvin, Sumner Academy - Garvin's another one of those under the radar Sumner Academy athletes who knows his role and excels at it. Garvin has hit key three after three this season for the Sabres. I can't say enough about how good he's been in the role that his teammates have created for him. Garvin's a nice player who could help the Sabres win a third straight title.

5. Deon Tripp, Sumner Academy - Tripp is like Jameon Cal; he's played way out of position this year due to the injury of Vernon Vaughn. Yet, Tripp has still gotten the job done for the Sabres. He's an absolute monster on the glass and is truly one of the better rebounding guards I've seen in my four years covering high school basketball. His defense has been good each time I've seen it and while his offensive numbers aren't always that high, he's a ball-player I'd take just for rebounding and defense. If I became a coach and I had to pick 10 players to fill out my roster, Deon would be one of my picks. Easily.

6. Mike Carson, Harmon - I know, I know. It's really tough to call Mike underrated. However, he's had a great two weeks of play and he's starting to score in the high teens consistently and he's even getting into the 20's now. Carson's really been pumping it up and he's doing very well. I'm proud of him.

7. Jammie Nunnally, Wyandotte - I feel bad for Nunnally because if he was on a team that won, more people would know about him. If Wyandotte had more talent around him, I really think Nunnally could be one of those Deon Tripp or Jameon Cal types who grabs rebounds and plays tough defense. Regardless, Nunnally is a good player and a freak athletically. He's been a bright spot on a down team for the Bulldogs and hopefully he keeps the work up.

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PHOTO: Your demoralizing KCK high school photo of the day

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

One of the things we like to talk about on KCK Preps is the student sections at a game - or lack there of in some other games.

It's cool to see a crowded gym and listen to a loud gym. Washington's game-day environment is incredibly special, for example. It is incredibly loud in that gymnasium and based on how much the Metro Sports guys talked about it, "Wash House" is starting to get a good reputation.

The photo above, however, details the battle KCK has with getting crowds.

It's a screen-shot from the Hawk TV broadcast of Wednesday's game between a team from St. Joseph, Mo., and the Harmon Hawks.

Harmon won the game by two-points on a last second three-pointer, but the thing that stood out to me was the lack of people there.

Yes, it's a Wednesday. Yes, it's a non-league game. Yes, Hawk TV does a good job in bringing the game to you in your living room.

But it's sad seeing this. While this photo is just of one side at J.C. Harmon's gym, you could hear the coaches clearly from both teams barking out calls. The section behind the Harmon bench was virtually empty too when the camera panned out to the scoreboard and it was clear the team from out of town had more fans.

There's not even a fan section at this Harmon game, let alone a student section.

Harmon has some nice players too and I feel extremely sorry for them that not enough people are there watching them. Mike Carson is becoming a star, Branden Roark is a star and JaJuan Taylor is beginning to exhibit some ability that I've been hyping up for two years now.

Those players don't deserve the pathetic display of support that's in this picture.

Just two or three years ago, Harmon had a ton of momentum in the community and several of KCK's bandwagon fans had hopped on the Hawks bandwagon.

This game looked like a ghost-town.

To be fair, it's not just Harmon. There have been some low crowds at Wyandotte's games this year. The football crowds were disappointing at times, too. There was not an overwhelming crowd at this year's Schlagle-Wyandotte game, which was perhaps the most important football game in that rivalry in a decade. 

Photos like the one above are really sad.

That's why there needs to be a stronger connection from school districts to the community. The community needs to support high school athletics simply because it's a great opportunity for students to get into colleges.

People don't like when we address negative things on this Website (for example, officiating), but a light needs to be shined on this city's issue of community support of high school athletics and quite frankly, schools in general.

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KVL Corner: The league's seven most underrated boys basketball players

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

We know about the Murphy Twins from Basehor-Linwood. We know about Izaiah Grice and Khalil Bailey from Lansing. B.J. Watson is Bonner Springs' stud and when he's on, the Braves are a good team. Nathan Stacy down in Mill Valley can light up the scoreboard any given night.

How about some of the guys a little under the radar?

Here are, in my opinion, the seven most underrated players in the Kaw Valley League, really in no order.

1. Eric Dougherty, Turner: I've given Will McKnight and Nick Rodriguez a ton of love recently, but Dougherty has been Turner's leading scorer in several games this year. He has a decent shot and he's not someone to be left open. He can rebound some too, and his leadership has been instrumental in Turner's improvement this year.

2. Brett Steuart, Bonner Springs: I've given Steuart a lot of credit lately, but let me give him a little bit more, this time focusing on his defense. Steuart can move really well for a guy his size. When you look at him, you think he just hunkers down in the lane, but that's not the case. He can guard the perimeter and his defense kept Bonner Springs in the game during the first half against Lansing. Offensively, Steuart can shoot the ball well and though he struggled a tad against Lansing, he can finish.

3. Calvin Johnson, Piper: Just a junior, Johnson is beginning to creep his way up to a potential "Second Team" or "Honorable Mention" type team. Johnson had a 26-point game against Tonganoxie and has consistently been one of Piper's leading scorers. He's played really well since January and look for him to be big next year. He has a nice game and it will thrive next year as the Young Pirates start to grow some teeth.

4. Evan Brull, Bishop Ward: Brull is just a fun player to watch. He has the occasionally double-figure game. Just a sophomore, he's not afraid to take a shot or drive into the lane. He's going to be a fun one to watch and him and Piper's Luke Long (also a sophomore) could have a fun three years going at it. Look for that to be a bit of an individual rivalry in Wyandotte County, especially in a historic rivalry like Piper-Bishop Ward.

5. Lucas Mein, Lansing: And no, I'm not just saying this because of his game yesterday. I've been impressed with Mein all year and yesterday was the cheery on the top. Advice to Lansing's opponents: DON'T LEAVE HIM OPEN! His jump shot is very pure and his release is gorgeous. When he's open, he drills it. For whatever reason, Bonner Springs did not adjust to him quick enough and Mein piled up 14 first-half points.

6. John Lean, Tonganoxie: I have to admit - I have not seen Lean all year, but it seems like he contributes to the Chieftains on a consistent basis. I may try to find some film of him online, if it's possible. Reading recaps from the paper out there, it seems like he always plays well.

7. Ben Johnson, Basehor-Linwood: Hear me out here on Ben. Johnson is like the middle child for the Bobcats. You have the two great seniors in Ryan and Colin Murphy, you have a suddenly active sophomore Chase Younger at the guard position. That really leads some people to overlook Johnson. Don't. Johnson hasn't really had that big game yet that makes headlines (both Ryan and Colin have hit the 30-point mark), but he's fun to watch. He's athletic as heck and he'll only get better after another productive summer. He's definitely capable of becoming a 20-8 guy during his senior season and could become a beast with the offense focused on him next year.

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