Class of ’23 Watch List: Part II

As the ’21 season quickly approaches; many Class of ’23 players have begun preparing for a much-anticipated junior year that should be filled with excitement and promise. These five juniors to be are looking to put together a strong season, and they will be great additions to the next update that will feature 200 ranked players. <strong>Lance Bassett</strong> – KC Piper, 6’4”, 250, DL Bassett looks and plays beyond his age. The massive defensive end prospect had a great sophomore year, accumulating 36 total tackles and earning 2^nd Team All Frontier League on the defensive line. He displays quick hands, a nice bend coming off the edge, and he can use his length to disrupt passing lanes. Bassett is also a huge red zone target at tight end for the Pirates. Look for an even better season out of him this fall. <strong>Caleb Wiese</strong> – Garden City, 6’4”, 190, ATH Wiese showed he could be productive wherever the Buffaloes lined him up at last fall. He filled in well taking snaps under center, and he made plays in the secondary at safety. The dynamic junior to be racked up over 1,000 yards of total offense with seven scores and piled up over 60 total tackles with two interceptions. He’s a dual threat at quarterback, and he shows his physicality while at safety. <strong>Lj Phillips</strong> – Wichita Northwest, 5’9”, 190, RB The Grizzlies were blessed to have [player_tooltip player_id="35356" first="Julius" last="Bolden"] be the lead back in their offense for two years, and now they reload with Phillips becoming their primary ball carrier. Even though Phillips wasn’t the focal point of their offense in 2020, he still managed to rush for 644 yards with 13 touchdowns and brought in 7 catches for 193 yards and one score. The Grizzlies won’t skip a beat with Phillips as their lead back. He’ll be in line for a huge junior campaign. <strong>Luke McLaughlin</strong> – Rose Hill, 6’2”, 175, DB After evaluating McLaughlin’s film, it’s fair to say he is the most physical corner in this defensive backs group. His lengthy frame allows him to press receivers off the line and he can contain the edge when defending against the run. McLaughlin was also a key piece on special teams. His stock should continue to rise with an upcoming invitation to the Sharp Top Prospect Combine later this month. <strong>Jaden Mitchell</strong> – Wichita Collegiate, 5’11”, 175, ATH The Spartans have a roaster with multiple playmakers on it, and Mitchell is one that should see his role expand after an impressive sophomore season. He was primarily a dangerous return man for the Spartans, as he could flip their field position on any return. Mitchell also has the potential to be a weapon on offense similar to how [player_tooltip player_id="35508" first="Jacob" last="Chugg"] was this past season. Look for Mitchell to get the ball in a variety of ways during his junior year.