Brannon Flowers of Desert Oasis runs the 40-yard dash during the Phase 1 Sports Football Combine and Skills Camp at Faith Lutheran High School Sunday, April 12, 2015.
Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016 | 2 a.m.
The class of 2017 is considered one of the best all-time for high school football talent in Las Vegas with more than 20 prospects expected to receive college scholarships.
Most have heard of a few:
The Bishop Gorman High duo of quarterback Tate Martell and defensive lineman Haskell Garrett are both verbally committed to Ohio State, while Desert Pines wideout Randall Grimes is committed to USC. And Arbor View defensive tackle Greg Rogers has offers from the who’s who of programs.
But there are plenty of players you might not have heard of. As we approach the start of the season Aug. 27, here’s a look those under the radar and poised for a breakout season:
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Khalid Walker, RB Mojave
Mojave’s 2015 season was plagued with injuries and a disappointing first-round playoff exit.
One injury, to feature back Elijah Smoot, opened the door for Khalid Walker to get multiple carries and set the table for a strong senior season. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Walker carried the ball 69 times for 385 yards and two touchdowns in the final weeks of the season, showing he has what it takes to be one of the 3A classification’s top ball carriers this fall.
“I’m taking more leadership,” Walker said. “I’m not really trying to make it a one-man show because I love my teammates. I believe the talent that we have is going to get the job done.”
Mojave averaged just five points per game in its four defeats last season but could be more explosive with Walker leading the charge. He will also be a leader defensively at linebacker.
“Last season was all over the place and we had a whole bunch of injuries and a lot of stuff was unstructured,” Walker said. “This year we have a lot of structure, discipline and more leaders on the field.”
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Iyen Medlock, WR Valley
Iyen Medlock led the Valley Vikings in passing yards, rushing yards and touchdowns last fall as a junior.
For his senior year, Medlock will attempt to lead the team in receiving.
The 6-foot-1 speedster will transition to wide receiver this year after playing most of the past three seasons at quarterback.
“This is the spot that I want to be,” Medlock said. “My coach and I have been talking about moving me to wide receiver since last season, but last year we had no quarterback so I had to take it.”
Medlock was arguably Valley’s lone offensive weapon last season, passing for 372 yards and four touchdowns, and rushing for 422 yards and four touchdowns. Valley hasn’t won a game since 2013 and scored just 70 points in 2015. He’ll again be the Vikings' top player and arguably one of the best in the Northeast League.
“I will probably be one of the biggest parts of the offense,” Medlock said. “Being a four-year starter and having that experience in the offense really pays off.”
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Ryan Scoggins, OL Silverado
Scoggins, the son of former NFL and UNLV player Ron Scoggins Sr, will anchor Silverado's offensive line in his lone varsity season.
The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Scoggins sat out last season after transferring from Bishop Gorman, but feels he has made strides physically while off the football field.
“I feel pretty good,” Scoggins said. “I’m getting my strength up and I’ve really been working on my triceps, shoulders and core.”
Scoggins has also been receiving advice from his father, who blocked for Silverado coach Randall Cunningham during his time at UNLV, and his older brother Ron Scoggins Jr. , who also played at UNLV.
“My brother helps me a lot and tells me a lot of techniques that I need to know going into college that they might not teach me in high school,” Scoggins said.
Silverado went 7-4 last season in Silverado’s first year. With Scoggins anchoring the line, it expects another winning season.
“He’s a great coach,” Ryan Scoggins said of Cunningham. “I’ve known him almost all of my life and he’s been my pastor for all of my life. He’s like family.”
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Brannon Flowers, WR Desert Oasis
A list of breakout players wouldn’t be complete without at least one player from last year’s breakout team.
The Diamondbacks shocked the valley in 2015, going 7-4 and knocking off Palo Verde in the first round of the playoffs.
Brannon Flowers led the team in passing with nearly 900 yards and seven touchdowns through the air and added another eight touchdowns on the ground.
This season, Flowers will play wide receiver and spearhead a passing attack that will need to be much improved after the graduation of running back Ty’shun McClinton.
“I’m really excited,” Flowers said. “Last season we had a run-heavy scheme with Ty’shun. This season we have a great quarterback who can get the ball out.”
Last season’s playoff victory, the first since the school opened in 2008, was just the beginning.
“Our goal is to, of course, be better than last season,” Flowers said. “Go out and shock the world again. Last year we had a breakout season and we want to have even more this year.”
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Bryce Hampton, ATH Centennial
There are few teams in Las Vegas with more returning talent at the skilled positions than the Centennial Bulldogs.
With Utah State commit Jamaal Evans back at quarterback, track star Savon Scarver at receiver and last year’s leading rusher Kayvon Miller at running back, the Bulldogs have plenty of weapons to go around.
Add one more to that list in senior Bryce Hampton, who is ready to take advantage if defenses pay too much attention to Scarver.
“I’ll put the team on my back to help my team win if I have to, but I know I’m going to have a lot of help with all of the talent at wide receiver and our linemen,” Hampton said.
While the 6-foot-, 175-pound Hampton may not be as well known as the others yet, and he had just four receptions last season, he says he is being recruited by BYU, Colorado State, UNR. He doubles at cornerback and recorded a pair of interceptions last season.
“We are all hungry,” Hampton said. “It’s time for our redemption.”
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Tyree Riley, RB Cimarron-Memorial
Lost in Cimarron-Memorial’s 2-8 season last fall was the stellar performance of Riley out of the backfield. He rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and six touchdowns.
Now Riley is back for his senior season and looking to lift Cimarron-Memorial back into the conversation for a Northwest League title.
“We are going to try to make it to the championship,” Riley said. “That’s our target.”
Riley says he has scholarship offers from Colorado-Mesa and Adams State and will likely attract more schools with a big senior season.
“I feel like this is my season to step up and I’m going to have a good year,” Riley said.
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