Top Five Arizona Wide Receivers for the Class of 2023

The state of Arizona is loaded with outstanding wide receivers for the class of 2023. As they get ready to enter their junior year, here are profiles of some outstanding athletes: <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-79406" style="font-size: 1rem;" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/12/OntheSideline-Logo-4-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /> [player_tooltip player_id="42924" first="<strong>Kyler</strong>" last="<strong>Kasper</strong>"] is a 6-5, 185-pound receiver for Williams Field High School in Gilbert. As a sophomore, he caught 22 balls for 412 yards and an average of 18.7 yards per reception. Head Coach Steve Campbell led Williams Field finished to a 5-3 record and 2-2 in the conference. Kyler is the son of former Iowa and NFL receiver Kevin Kasper. Kyler’s dad was a second-team All-Big Ten selection and played eight years in the NFL. He was a member of the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. To date, Kyler has had 11 scholarship offers from these col<span style="font-size: 1rem;">leges: University of Arizona, Arizona State, California, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Utah, Vanderbilt, Northern Arizona, and USC. He is considered by scouts a four-star athlete and has a 3.3 GPA. One scout refers to Kyler as a ’constant deep threat, beating safeties over the top and using his high point ability in traffic.’Over this past spring, he played in a number of 7 v 7 tournaments and wowed both coaches and scouts with his speed, route running, and outstanding hands. He definitely will be playing for a Power Five college in the fall of 2023.</span> [player_tooltip player_id="110094" first="<strong>Blaise</strong>" last="<strong>Nelson</strong>"] is a 5-11, 160-pound receiver for Valley Vista High School in Surprise. The Monsoon went 2-6 in 2020 although Blaise caught 51 balls for 574 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 11.3 yards per catch and 71.8 yards per game. He can bench press 185 pounds, squat 315, and has a vertical jump of 29.9. He also competes in the 100-yard dash, the 200, and the 4 X 100 relay for the Valley Vista track team. Blaise broke the school record in the 100 with a time of 10.76. Last fall he was selected as Player of the Game in Valley Vista’s contest against Mountain Ridge. Blaise has been competing in both a number of 7 on<span style="font-size: 1rem;"> 7 events this spring and has been invited to the USA National Football Regional in Phoenix as well as the West Elite Prospect Camp. He maintains a 4.2 GPA and was selected as First-Team All-District last fall and Second-Team All-Region. He was also honored as a member of the First Team All-Academic team by Sports360AZ. One scout referred to Blaise..." as a smart route runner who consistently makes plays after catches."</span> [player_tooltip player_id="110096" first="<strong>Micah</strong>" last="<strong>Johnson</strong>"] is a 6-2, 175-pound receiver and cornerback for Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria. Sunrise won the 5A State Championship in 2020, finishing with a 10-2 record. Micah caught 18 passes for 382 yards. He averaged 21.2 yards per catch and 54.6 receiving yards per game while scoring three touchdowns. He has been timed at 4.4 in the forty-yard dash, One scout indicated that Micah," possesses solid s<span style="font-size: 1rem;">peed to take the top off of a defense and he will be a burner the next two years. He is becoming a complete receiver." He has been invited to a number of combines including the Under Armour All-American Camp. During the spring, his Time Buzz West Coast 7-on-7 team played in a number of tournaments. Micah was selected by ArizonaVarsity.com as the 5A Offensive Undergraduate of the Year. As he gets ready for his junior year, the scholarship offers should begin to roll in.</span> [player_tooltip player_id="110098" first="<strong>Drake</strong>" last="<strong>Cluff"</strong>] is a 5-8, 150-pound wide receiver and cornerback for the American Leadership Academy in Queen Creek. The Patriots finished 8-2  in 2020 under Head Coach Rich Edwards. As a sophomore, Drake had 45 catches in 10 games for 590 yards and an average of 13.1 yards per catch. He had 636 all-purpose yards, scored seven touchdowns, and, as a cornerback, made two interceptions. ALA lost to Mesquite in the 2020 playoffs, 19-16. Drake has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He can also bench press 185 pounds and squat 325. He was selected as a finalist by ArizonaVarsity.com for the 4A Offensive Underclassman of the Year. The Arizona Republic, in scouting Drake, referred to him "as a receiver with good speed, sure hands, and a player that makes tough catches in traffic. He clearly is a consistent playmaker." He ranked #38 out of 100 in the listing of Top Football Prospects for the Class of 2023. With two years of high school eligibility remaining, the sky’s the limit for him. [player_tooltip player_id="110128" first="<strong>Carter"</strong> last="<strong>Hancock</strong>"] is a 5-11, 160-pound receiver for Higley High School in Gilbert. He is also a member of the Knights basketball team. In 2020, he caught 36 balls in nine games for 549 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 14 kickoff returns for 345 yards, an average return of 24.6 yards. On defense, Carter had both a fumble recovery and a blocked punt. Last fall, in week seven, Higley lost to Hamilton High School in a shootout, 42-36. Higley quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="42588" first="Kai" last="Millner"] - who is going to the University of California on a full scholarship - hit Carter for 12 receptions, 198 yards, and two touchdowns. Carter was nominated for an Ed Doherty  Medallion for his performance in the Hamilton game. Approaching his junior season, he has an outstanding future ahead of him.