There’s something brewing in Kansas City.
Hail Varsity was on the scene at Park Hill High School for the Kansas City Showcase, a camp put together by former Husker Michael Rose-Ivey and former Kansas City Chief Samie Parker. This was the third and final showcase of the summer for the event. The group hopes to make a yearly tradition.
Here are my five thoughts from the showcase.
Fun and High Energy
Being out at the showcase, you could tell that the athletes were itching to get back to competition. It’s been a tough spring and summer for many trying to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The 60+ high school players that came out showed up ready to work and get better. I continue to be impressed by the shape the players have stayed in during the pandemic.
The players were also able to use the event as a nice way to sharpen their skills. This will springboard them at their respective high schools as they seasons begin.
The Kansas City Showcase Was LIIIIIIIIVE Today!!!!!!!!! Great Work Today Players, Coaches, and big thanks to the parents for bringing their athletes out today 🙏🏾🏈
— Coach Washington (@GrindHardKC) August 9, 2020
Defensive Back to Watch
Seeing emerging prospects before they become bigger names on the recruiting scene is what these camps are all about. There was a prospect in attendance that fit the bill. Jayonne Henderson is a defensive back from Raytown South High School in Kansas City. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, he’s a long and lean athlete that could really develop. If he continues to learn technique and trust his training, Henderson could play at the next level.
Pair of Standout Quarterbacks
In these camp settings, good quarterback play really elevates the whole event. There were several good skill position players out at the camp. Cam’Ron Kelly, a 2021 quarterback from St. Mary’s High School, was one of the top performers of the whole camp.
Had a great camp today blessed to receive top performer @SAMIEPARKER @AllenTrieu @zaccarlson pic.twitter.com/ZnhuLuQJ5t
— Cam’Ron McCoy (@CamRonMcCoy2) August 9, 2020
Another quarterback that stood out was 2022 signal-caller Jaron Saunders. The junior is from Lafayette High School in St. Joseph, Missouri. He showed good arm strength and fundamentals all camp long.
Check out @SaundersJaron22 at KC showcase @SAMIEPARKER @CoachMRI pic.twitter.com/dqetmJ1464
— Uclick TV (@UclickTv) August 8, 2020
Great Instruction by Coaches
The level of instruction provided by the coaches working the event stood out. If you were a player in attendance, you couldn’t help but soak up the knowledge that they were passing down. The individual drill work allowed for great one-on-one coaching. That continued during the one-on-ones and 7-on-7 portion of the camp.
The coaches routinely pulled kids to the side to pump them up or give tips.
Hidden Gem at Running Back
Many prospects have stayed under the radar this summer that would traditionally have more attention by now if circumstances were more normal. One of those players was on the field Saturday.
Running back Michael Henderson was a standout performer. He showed good burst in drills, and also caught the ball well and ran good routes. He attends Lincoln College Prep which is where Rose-Ivey coaches. I don’t think he’ll stay under the radar for long with the number of scholarship players that school produces recently.
That’s a wrap!! KC appreciate you for rocking with us this summer! The Kansas City Showcase will be a staple for years to come! S/o to my guy @SAMIEPARKER ! Crazy what you can build from nothing when you have like minded people in your circle!#KansasCityShowcase
— Coach Michael Rose-Ivey (@CoachMRI) August 9, 2020
Greg is the Recruiting Analyst for Hail Varsity and has covered Husker athletics since 2013. He has always had a passion for sports while growing up in the Chicago area. As he got older and had to hang up his cleats and sneakers, he realized his passion for sports went beyond just watching and attending games. He has covered many events from the Rose Bowl to championship boxing matches. If he’s not talking sports, he’s hovering over his grill. He is married to an amazing woman, Kim, and they have a dog that barks when Greg yells at the TV during games.
