Varsity Kansas - The Blog

I see there’s been some talk that we aren’t discussing enough of the top boys players in the City League. Well, consider this your chance.

Give me your All-City team after the first half of the season.

Now give me your mid-season All-Metro team.

If you want, I’ll take All-Central Plains, All-MCAA, All-AVCTL I II III IV at midseason.

Now for my thoughts, which will be skewed to City League because that’s all I’ve seen so far. (Give me time!) And, please, no sarcastic comments about how I should be coaching because I know so much. Blah, blah. This is only my opinion, feel free to take them with a grain of salt, just as I will do with yours.

Southeast has two of the City League’s top players by far in Jordan Cyphers, who’s leading the City League with 22.5 points, and Adonis Gantt (16.9). I like Cortez Barnes, but he really seems to disappear. Frustrating, because the kid can dominate.

East has the likes of Garrius Holloman (17.3) and Jawanza Poland. I heard about the dunk he had against Heights — Jeff Lutz was gaa-gaa over that. Poland is just so darn long that he gets so high and he can reach so far.

South’s studs are Marky Nolen and Lance Russell, without a doubt. I saw Russell (19.5 points and second in the CL) put up 34 on Heights, which was impressive. But South lost that game, yet won when he only had five against Carroll. That says a lot about how that team has progressed. Nolen (14.5 points) is so darn athletic.

Heights is led by Kelton Marshall (16.4 points), a kid who must weight about a buck25. Seriously. I wish I had his metabolism. Anyway, he’s an amazing shot blocker, but he’s kind of like Barnes, he’ll disappear on you. Terry Webb (12.5) and Dorrian Roberts are quick guards with the ability to kill you offensively.

Northwest’s top player is obviously Chris Harper (13.6). Love this guy’s pure athleticism. My goodness, he can control the lane offensively with his moves. He has the ability to score 10 unanswered, but then you wonder, OK, where’s Harper? Especially when he’s on the perimeter. I know the guy has a shot at playing college basketball (he’s orally committed to play football at Oregon and I give him major props for still playing basketball) and he won’t play inside in college. But this is high school and he’s a dominant post player.

I haven’t seen Kapaun Mount Carmel, but Kevin Booker (12.8 points) and Shane Torgler (11.5 points) are its top two players. Booker’s the type of skilled player who can create on his own.

Bishop Carroll has Brett Steven scoring 13.4 points and ranks 8th in the league’s offense. But, true to what coach Lonnie Lollar said before the season, the Eagles have one of the top defenses, allowing 54.9 points, second behind South’s 54.5 allowed.

North is struggling. I thought this team would be better by now, but it’s not. Andre Kahmeyer is scoring 12.1.

West is struggling, too. I saw West play at Koch Arena and was impressed with their guard play, but it couldn’t sustain a whole game.

As for outside the City League, I’m looking forward to checking out Andover at Andover Central Friday night. Can’t wait to see the undefeated Trojans. Luke Meisch is averaging 18.5.

All right folks, agree with me, think I’m crazy. Tell me yours.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 28th, 2008 at 8:24 p.m. and is filed under Basketball. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.